The North American Meat Institute’s challenge to California’s Prop 12 is unsuccessful once again. The U.S. Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit rejected the institute’s challenge to the California 2018 ballot initiative that imposes new standards for animal housing. The court decision confirms an initial judgment in October. California voters approved the Prevention…… MORE
Federal Judge Rejects H-2A Program Changes
A federal court in Fresno issued a preliminary injunction against the Labor Department’s decision to freeze farm workers’ wages for those that use the H-2A Guestworker Program. Fruit and Nut Grower News says the freeze would effectively lower the wages of several hundred thousand guest farm workers employed by U.S. farmers. A preliminary injunction…… MORE
Effective date delayed for California’s flavored tobacco ban
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California state officials have agreed to delay the effective date of what state lawmakers intended as a Jan. 1 ban on flavored tobacco products. They’ll wait until county clerks can determine if opponents led by tobacco companies filed enough signatures to put the new law to a statewide vote. Inyo County’s…… MORE
California court: Sex offenders can qualify for early parole
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that inmates convicted of nonviolent sex crimes cannot be denied a chance at early parole consideration under a ballot measure approved by nearly two-thirds of voters four years ago. Former Gov. Jerry Brown, who championed the 2016 initiative as a way to reduce prison…… MORE
Valley Stay-at-Home Orders Likely to be Extended
LOS ANGELES (AP) – State officials are expected to extend the strictest stay-at-home orders in central and Southern California as hospitals there are quickly running out of intensive care unit beds for coronavirus patients ahead of the presumed post-holiday surge. The situation is already dire, and the worst is expected to come in the next…… MORE
Organic Weed Killer Under Investigation
Regulators in California, Washington and Oregon issued “stop-use” orders for a popular herbicide that’s been used on a lot of organic crops. Questions are arising about whether or not Agro Gold WS contains synthetic herbicides like Glyphosate or Diquat. As more questions come up about the product, the state of Idaho is also investigating,…… MORE
Santa’s Reindeer Cleared For California
The California Department of Food and Agriculture says State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones has granted a 24-hour permit clearing all brand inspection and health requirements for nine reindeer scheduled to visit California on the evening of December 24 and in the early morning hours of December 25. The permit application was filed via email and…… MORE
New COVID-19 Package Helps Farmers
Food and agriculture groups welcome the new COVID-19 relief package. Congress this week agreed on a $900 billion stimulus package, which includes up to $13 billion that directly benefits agriculture. Nearly $1 billion will support a dairy donation program and supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage payments. More help is available to specialty and non-specialty crop…… MORE
Newsom Picks Election Chief Alex Padilla to Replace Harris in Senate
Associated Press – California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Secretary of State Alex Padilla on Tuesday as the state’s next U.S. senator to fill the seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The child of Mexican immigrants, Padilla will be California’s first Latino senator, giving a new level of representation to the demographic group that…… MORE
KMJ Listeners Help Sends Hundreds of Christmas Cards to Valley Vets
(KMJ) – The KMJ listener army has delivered once again. All last week, Fresno’s Morning News shared the address of Operation: Dear Veteran. It is an effort from Fresno Pacific University to collect about 500 Christmas cards to send to Valley Veterans in the VA or those in the California Veterans Home. And that goal…… MORE
