FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Despite years of warnings, and assurances that the IRS never makes calls demanding that back taxes be paid immediately, Americans are still falling prey to scammers. Fraudsters appear to be working overtime this summer. The Internal Revenue Services says there’s been an increase in robo calls, in which impersonators threaten to take legal…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Newly-filed campaign fiance reports show California Treasurer John Chiang raked in $2.3 million during the first 45 days of his campaign. Chiang raised more than double what his rival Democrat and Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, raised during the same timeframe, after declaring his candidacy last year. Records show Newsom has more than $8.6…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Nearly two weeks per month, or about 78 hours, is about what California homeowners must work each month to pay their mortgage, according GoBankingRates.com. The figure is based on Census data, and average monthly payment calculations. However, the number of hours required to pay a mortgage varies widely by region. In Ohio, the…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — The Golden State’s public school system is the 12th worst in the United States, according to a new WalletHub study. California ranks dead last, when it comes to student-teacher ratio. Reading and math test scores aren’t much better, with the state ranking 47th and 46th, respectively. Other factors considered were disciplinary incidents, dropout…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — 84 percent of Californians have internet access at home; that’s up from 75 percent two years ago. According to a new Field Poll, the increase can be largely be attributed to the prevalence of smart phones. Most of those polled say they use the internet not only for networking and entertainment, but also…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — According to new research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, ride-sharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, appear to have had minimal impact on drunk driving rates. In an analysis of the 100 most populated regions, experts compared the data from before and after the services’ availability. To their surprise,…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Smoking marijuana appears to harm your heart, and that of anyone around you, even more than cigarettes. According to new research from the University of California, San Francisco, lab rats had a severe decline in blood vessel function, after one minute of exposure to either pot or tobacco smoke. However, it took those…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Despite the potential for higher energy expenses, the majority of Californians still favor the state’s efforts to combat climate change. That’s according to new polling from the Public Policy Institute, which finds that 62 percent of likely voters approve of cap-and-trade’s primary goal, of reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. According…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Take the concept from the classroom to the office, and see an increase in productivity. A Harvard Business School study finds that placing the correct employees together, can lead to about 15 percent boost in performance. Experts say there are essentially three types of workers: those who value quality, those who focus…… MORE
FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — The Independent System Operator has issued a Flex Alert for the State of California. With the air conditioners running endlessly, there’s substantial stress on the electrical grid, raising the potential for outages. A Flex Alert calls for voluntary conservation, especially during peak demand, between 2:00 and 9:00 P.M. Keep the thermostat…… MORE
