Business & Economy

Fresno To Get High-End, High-Rise Downtown Restaurant?

Joe Moore — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:44:29 +0000

UPDATED: 5/17/13 (see below)

Could Fresno foodies soon be enjoying a gourmet meal at the top of the tallest privately-owned building in Central California?

Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin suggested as much with this interesting nugget of information during her State of the City address today:

''Mini Maker Faire' Highlights Fresno's Quirky Creativity, Innovation

Ezra Romero — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:34:38 +0000

In a region of the country known for its agriculture exploits and groundbreaking farming techniques a new sort of innovation is developing. The Fresno Grizzlies along with Fresno Idea Works held the first ever Mini Maker Faire in Fresno on Sunday. Valley Public Radio’s Ezra Romero has this report.
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It was a regular day at the ballpark. The crack of the bat, the crowd cheering as a player hits a ball out of the stadium and Parker -- the Fresno Grizzlies mascot – making the audience smile between innings.

USDA to Give Hispanic and Female Farmers More Time to File Discrimination Claims

Rebecca Plevin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:55:58 +0000

Decades of discriminatory practices by the U.S. Department of Agriculture against women and Hispanic farmers are playing out in a $1.3 billion claims process. FM89’s Rebecca Plevin reports on a new deadline for those who allege discrimination.

For around 20 years, critics say the USDA’s farm loan program denied applicants because of their gender or race, and gave white male farmers preferential treatment in their dealings with the agency.

Bill Would Phase Out Plastic Bags in California

Amy Quinton — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:34:25 +0000

Plastic bags may not be an option much longer at California grocery stores. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban the bags. Despite previous attempts, supporters believe this time the bill will pass. Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento.

California retailers hand out more than 14 billion single use plastic bags every year. The state’s own figures show only 5 percent are recycled. Mark Murray is with Californians Against Waste.

Reedley Farmer Goes 'Farm to School' With Strawberries

Rebecca Plevin — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:55:48 +0000

Pao Saephan crouches down in his sun-drenched field. He cups a red jewel in his hand.

In a few more days, his strawberries will be fully ripe. He’ll pick them once they are garnet-colored from stem to tip.

“We want all the strawberries, to be full ripe, full flavor, with 100 percent sugar in them,” says Saephan.

California Tied With Rhode Island For Highest Unemployment in Nation

Amy Quinton — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 01:29:40 +0000

California now has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. As Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento, the latest figures from the California Employment Development Department show no improvement in the state’s jobless rate for January.

California’s unemployment rate remained at 9.8 percent in January. That ties the state with Rhode Island for the highest unemployment rate in the country.

Report: California Women Faring Worse than Men During Economic Recovery

Joe Moore — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:59:47 +0000

A new study finds women in California aren’t faring as well as men during the economic recovery. The analysis was done by The California Budget Project and the Women’s Foundation of California.

It finds employment among the state’s women declined by a little less than one percent over the past two years – while it was increased nearly two percent among men.

Chris Hoene with the Budget Project says cuts to programs such as CalWorks, the state’s welfare to work program, and cuts to state subsidized child care have largely affected women:

For Many Seniors Working Well Beyond 65 Is New Reality

Ezra Romero — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:30:00 +0000

The world for the retiree is evolving. For some retirement means a chance to globe-trot or travel across the country in an RV, but for many 65 is just another milestone, a reminder of poor financial decisions earlier in life or a chance to explore a second career.

Honey Bee Shortage Could Sting Almond Growers

Amy Quinton — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:45:35 +0000

A honey bee shortage in California could sting almond growers this season. As Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento, there aren’t enough bees to pollinate the crops of California’s largest export.

California gets about 75 percent of its bees from other states. But drought, malnutrition and disease killed many of the bees over the winter. The winter losses are still being counted.

Fresno's Twee Boutique To Close

Joe Moore — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:23:27 +0000

A downtown Fresno gift store that specializes in handmade and "indie" arts and craft products is set to close.

Store owner Melanie Davis announced that she plans to shut down retail operation on the boutique's Facebook page Tuesday morning. She says the shop will stay open through the end of March: