Concerns Growing over USDA Reorganization

  Land-grant universities and other organizations are expressing concerns over the administration’s plan to move Department of Agriculture agencies out of the nation’s capital. USDA recently announced it will move the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture out of Washington, D.C., to a more “cost-effective” location closer to farmers. The…MORE

Calif. Moves Closer to Eliminating Bail System

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP/KMJ) – The California Assembly has narrowly passed a bill to make California the first state to completely eliminate bail for suspects awaiting trial and replace it with a risk-assessment system. The bill, SB 10 authored by state Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), passed Monday with no votes to spare and over concerns…MORE

Surfing Becomes California’s Official State Sport

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Surf’s up in California, where it’s now the official state sport. Gov. Jerry Brown announced Monday that he has signed a bill making it so. The new law declares surfing to be “an iconic California sport” – though it acknowledges that surfing originated with the Polynesian people and was imported into…MORE

New Law Bans Male Guard Pat Downs of Female Inmates

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Male prison guards will be prohibited from pat-down searching incarcerated women and viewing them while they are not fully dressed under a new law signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown. Brown announced he signed the bill Monday. It will take effect in 2019. The bill bans male guards from entering areas…MORE

Castro Rejects Restricting Employee Speech: “Where Would We Draw The Line?”

FRESNO (KMJ) — Fresno State faculty and staff have been officially welcomed back to campus, but the Fall Assembly took place under the shadow of what President Joseph Castro described as “turbulence” from earlier in the year. “While we have undoubtedly been on an upward trajectory in so many different ways, we are living in…MORE

Controversial Water Plan Vote on Hold

The State Water Resources Control Board says that staff revised the agenda for the August 21st and 22nd board meeting. It means final action on the proposed update to the water quality control plan which includes diverting water from San Joaquin tributaries will occur at a future board meeting. The Water Resources Control Board says…MORE

Full Containment Reached On Ferguson Fire

(KMJ) – After battling the Ferguson Fire for nearly 40 days in Mariposa County, fire crews say they fully contained the deadly blaze on Sunday. The cause of this fire, which began July 13th in the Merced River Canyon, remains under investigation.  But in the battle against it, two fire fighters, Braden Varney and Brian…MORE