New Data from USDA’s Economic Research Service shows foods labeled “natural” accounted for slightly more than 16% of consumer retail food purchases. USDA and the Food and Drug Administration require producers to adhere to specific standards or processes to use certain label claims, such as USDA Organic. The “natural” claim, however, has minimal requirements and…… MORE
Milk Producers Oppose Infant Formula Bill
The National Milk Producers Federation strongly opposes legislation introduced in both chambers of Congress that the organization believes would increase U.S. vulnerability to infant formula supply disruptions. The bill calls for increasing U.S. reliance on imported formula and formula inputs. It would also unilaterally and permanently remove tariffs and tariff rate quotas on infant formula…… MORE
California Attorney General Blames Florida For Charter Flight That Took Migrants To Sacramento
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Florida appears to have arranged for a group of South American migrants to be transported from Texas to California and dropped off in Sacramento, California’s attorney general said, noting that he’s looking into whether any crimes may have been committed. If true, the 16 Colombian and Venezuelan migrants who turned up…… MORE
California Bill Requiring Big Tech To Pay For News Gains Momentum
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California bill that would force Big Tech companies to pay media outlets for posting and using their news content cleared another critical hurdle Thursday. The measure is among hundreds of bills that passed in the state Senate and Assembly this week before Friday — the last day a bill can…… MORE
New Research on Actual Water Use by Agriculture
California Farm Bureau is posting on its website recent scientific work by the California Bountiful Foundation showing that California farmers and ranchers use only 15% of the total water the state receives. These findings, now available on the California Bountiful Foundation website offers a data-based analysis of water use of California agriculture, the largest food…… MORE
Resources For Bitwise Employees After Sudden Furlough
SACRAMENTO – Following the furloughing of hundreds of employees, Assemblyman Jim Patterson wants Bitwise employees to know that his office is available to help walk them through the process of filing for unemployment during this very difficult time. Bitwise employees should file for unemployment at https://edd.ca.gov/en/unemployment/ and complete the identity verification process. Those who need help filing…… MORE
Judge Dismisses Criminal Charges Against California Energy Company In 2020 Fatal Wildfire
REDDING, Calif. (AP) — A California judge on Wednesday dismissed all charges against Pacific Gas & Electric in connection to a 2020 fatal wildfire sparked by its equipment that destroyed hundreds of homes and killed four people, including an 8-year-old. The utility also reached a $50 million settlement agreement with the Shasta County District Attorney’s…… MORE
West Coast Ports Losing Business as Negotiations Continue
West Coast ports in the U.S. started negotiating a new labor contract just over a year ago. While working without a new contract in place isn’t unheard of, the contract has now been expired for over 10 months. A report from the U.S. Meat Export Federation says the labor uncertainty is having an impact on…… MORE
Fresno PD: 18 Year Old Woman Shot, Killed by Boyfriend
Fresno Police officers responded to Tyler Avenue and Bond Street for a report of a gunshot victim on Tuesday night. Officers arrived and found 18-year-old Zoe Salinas in the passenger seat of a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics performed life-saving measures, but Salinas was pronounced deceased. Homicide detectives learned that Salinas was in…… MORE
Bitwise Sued by Investors for $33 Million
Recently-shuttered Bitwise Industries is now being sued for more than $30 million. The troubled Fresno-based tech company closed it’s doors over the Memorial Day holiday and furloughed all of its employees. On Wednesday, a Texas company that financed several of Bitwise’s real estate deals in 2022, filed suit in Fresno Superior Court. The complaint filed…… MORE
