FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — The California Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee approved Assembly Bill 5 on Wednesday. The controversial measure calls for reclassifying thousands of independent contractors as employees. Outside the California State Capitol, a rally was held, in which Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon claimed that independent contracting amounts to “corporations trying to oppress workers.”…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Law enforcement agencies in the Golden State have reported 628 cases for last year of deadly force or serious bodily injury. New figures from California Department of Justice show a decline of 20 percent, in just 2 years. The drop comes as the Democratic legislative majority has sought to increasingly restrict the…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — The vaccination rate among California kindergarten students is down again, as more parents have sought medical exemptions for their children. New figures from the Department of Public Health show that more than 4,800 kindergartners had a medical exemption last school year; it marks a 70 percent increase in the 2 years since…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Starting July 1, Californians seeking to buy ammunition in the state will have to undergo a background check, as part a gun control measure approved back in 2016. However, confusion remains over what kind of documentation will be required. At a news conference on Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom incorrectly stated that, “if…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a $24 billion package Friday, in an effort to cover the costs of future wildfires in California. Newsom’s plan includes the creation of a $21 billion fund, as well as a requirement that PG&E, So Cal Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric pay $3 billion into an…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — The California Legislature has approved Assembly Bill 91, which calls for more than doubling the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit program. The measure, which supporters believe will help the working poor, will expand the program to $1 billion. It’s part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest budget, which revokes the ability of Californians…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — 21-year-old Myron Johnson of Tulare is set to spend more than 30 years behind bars, after threatening to kill a female minor, whom he had been selling for sex. The victim contacted Visalia Police in January 2017, after escaping from the home where Johnson had been holding her captive. Investigators were then…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Just as gas prices have begun a slight decline, fuel taxes in the Golden State are about to rise. Starting July 1, the figure will rise by 5.6 cents a gallon, to 47.3 cents. It’s part of the 10-year tax and fee increase, approved back in 2017 by the California State Legislature,…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — California gas prices are now within about a dime of what they were around this time in 2018. New figures from AAA show that Fresno’s now averaging $3.86, compared to $3.93 last week. California refineries are said to be at their highest productivity since last November. Statewide, the average is down to…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Democratic California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has sent a letter to the EPA, accusing the agency of failing to ensure cleanup of groundwater contamination. So-called PFA contaminants include thousands of chemicals in products such as wrinkle-free clothing, food packaging, and non-stick cooking spray. They’ve been dubbed “forever chemicals,” as they often don’t…… MORE
