Producer outlook fell to its weakest reading since July 2022, as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index declined 19 points to 104 in May. The new reading was fueled by declines in both of the barometer’s sub-indices. The Index of Future Expectations declined 22 points to 98, while the Index of Current Conditions…… MORE
Arrest Made in Deadly 2021 Oakhurst Crash
OAKHURST, Calif. – CHP detectives have cracked the case of a deadly hit & run that occurred in the Summer of 2021. Investigators on Tuesday arrested 22-year-old Bryce Yandell of Coarsegold. They say he was behind the wheel of an SUV which struck and killed Eben Hammond on Road 427 and Elliot in Oakhust. 20-year-old…… MORE
Young, Wild And Free: Wolverine Spotted In California For Only Second Time In Last 100 Years
BISHOP, Calif. (AP) — A wolverine was spotted three times last month in the eastern Sierra Nevada, a rare occurrence for an animal that’s only been seen one other time in California over the last 100 years, state wildlife officials said. While wolverines are native to California, they’ve been essentially extinct from the state since…… MORE
California Insurance Market Rattled By Withdrawal Of Major Companies
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two insurance industry giants have pulled back from California’s home insurance marketplace, saying that increasing wildfire risk and soaring construction costs have prompted them to stop writing new policies in the nation’s most populous state. State Farm announced last week it would stop accepting applications for all business and personal lines…… MORE
“Natural” Labeled Foods Account for 16% of Consumer Spending
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
