FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — California legislative leaders and Gov. Jerry Brown have struck an agreement on a $180 billion spending plan. Among other things, it would bump the state’s Rainy Day Fund to $8.5 billion this coming fiscal year, expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, and use revenue from the latest tobacco tax increase for Medi-Cal.…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — A recent study involving 37 midsize SUVs by the Institute for Highway Safety, finds that only 2 have adequate headlights for night driving. Researchers say the Volvo XC60 and the Hyundai Santa Fe are the only vehicles equipped with lights that can help drivers see obstacles, and have enough time to react…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — The Golden State’s planned legal market for recreational marijuana is expected to be worth more than $5 billion. That’s according to a new study by the University of California Agriculture Issues Center, which also finds that about 29 percent of pot consumers are likely to stay in the black market initially, to…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — E-cigarettes appear to be less addictive than their traditional counterparts. According to researchers at Penn State College of Medicine, vaping doesn’t create the same dependence on nicotine as tobacco. However, their recent study confirms that other chemicals in the electronic devices can still be harmful. Experts say more studies are needed to…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Sales of white bread over the past 4 decades have declined by around 75 percent, amid a consensus that it’s not as a healthy as other varieties. According to the Weizman Institute of Science, contrary to popular belief, wheat bread is not inherently healthier. Researchers say people have different responses, and the…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — It’s long been thought that increased sexual education leads to a reduction in teen pregnancies. However, according to a new study published in the Journal of Health Economics, that’s not always the case. Budget cuts to sexual health classes in England, are believed to have led to a drop in teen pregnancies.…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Children who consume alternatives to dairy milk, such as almond, soy, or rice milks, may end up a bit shorter. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for each cup of dairy milk drunk per day, 0.2 of a centimeter in height was gained. Despite a relatively recent…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Consuming even moderate amounts of alcohol can lead to a decline in brain function. That’s according to a new study from the University of Oxford and University College London, which found over a 30-year period that memory and spatial navigation functions are negatively affected by prolonged drinking. American guidelines suggest that 24.5…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — California is the second most expensive state in the nation, when it comes to college education. According to a new GOBankingRates.com report, a family needs nearly $107,000 a year to send one child to a 4-year university, and still live a comfortable life. The state is only cheaper than Hawaii, where a…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — California is the nation’s second-best economy, according to WalletHub, whose latest analysis gives a different view of the often criticized state, which many consider unfriendly to business. Being the 6th largest economy on the planet, California ranks 5th when it comes to startup activity and high-tech industries. When examining GDP and the government…… MORE
