SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Backed by soaring revenues amid the pandemic, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday proposed a budget that would pay for the health care of all the state’s low-income residents living in the country illegally, while cutting taxes for businesses and halting a scheduled increase in the gas tax later this summer. California taxpayers…… MORE
American Cheese Producers and Dairy Farmers Get Court Win
The U.S. District Court in eastern Virginia issued ruling that “gruyere” is a generic style of cheese that can come from anywhere. The decision says all cheesemakers, not just those in France and Switzerland, can continue to create and market cheese under that common name. The Consortium for Common Food Names, the U.S. Dairy Export…… MORE
Santa Barbara County Fire Fighter Killed in China Peak Skiing Accident
(KMJ) – An off-duty Santa Barbara County firefighter lost his life over the weekend following a skiing accident at a Fresno County ski resort in the Sierra Nevada. Here are the details, as released by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office: Members of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit have identified 33 year-old Joseph (Joey)…… MORE
CA Dept. Education Data for 2020–21, Shows Challenges Due to Pandemic
CDE Releases Student Data for 2020–21 that Show Impacts of COVID-19 on Schools Assessment scores, chronic absenteeism data, and graduation rates underscore the challenges of a year when most students accessed their education through remote learning SACRAMENTO—The California Department of Education (CDE) today released student performance data that provide baseline indicators of how the COVID-19…… MORE
Arbery Killers Get Life in Prison; No Parole for Father, Son
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — Three white men who chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery were sentenced Friday to life in prison, with a judge denying any chance of parole for the father and son who armed themselves and initiated the deadly pursuit of the 25-year-old Black man. Murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison…… MORE
Grocers Allege Pork Price Fixing in Lawsuit
Leading grocery store operators file a lawsuit against the pork industry for allegedly conspiring to control the industry and raise prices. Kroger, Albertsons, Hy-Vee and others filed the lawsuit against Hormel, JBS USA, Seaboard Foods, Smithfield, Triumph and Tyson, among others. Law Street Media reports the plaintiffs alleged the defendants and Indiana Packers Corporation entered…… MORE
Farmer Mental Health More Openly Discussed
Farmers and people in rural areas are more comfortable discussing stress and mental health challenges. The stigma around seeking help or treatment for mental health issues is decreasing, but a new Farm Bureau research poll says it is still a factor. “Farm Bureau has been encouraging conversations to help reduce the stigma around farmer stress…… MORE
Legislation AB 1599 Introduced in the California State Capitol to Counter Wave of Crime
FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Legislation is introduced Tuesday in the California State Capitol to counter a wave of petty crime. Proposition 47 is titled the “Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act,” and reduced many drug and theft crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. It also made the crime of shoplifting a misdemeanor as long as the amount…… MORE
California Extends Indoor Mask Mandate as Omicron Surges
(KMJ) – California is extending the indoor mask mandate as the omicron varient surges. A statewide mask mandate for indoor public spaces was reinstituted in mid-December. It had been set to be reevaluated on January 15. On Wednesday, Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s Health and Human Services Secretary said given the sharp recent rise in infections…… MORE
Farmers More Positive on Financial Outlook
For only the second time since May, the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose in December. This month’s index climbed to 125, nine points higher than in November. The Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Future Expectations rose in December, attributable mostly to an improved perspective on current conditions in the agricultural…… MORE
