FRESNO – For the second time in just two months, Community Medical Centers has received an improved financial rating that cites strong clinical services and stellar management among other attributes as a case for the upgrade. Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) announced the upgraded ratings on Community’s revenue bonds from Baa2 to Baa1 on March 19. [...]

BOSTON, April 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – The John Hancock Investor Sentiment Index® continued its upward trend of the past two quarters, increasing to +23 in the first quarter of 2014 from +22 in the fourth quarter of last year.  Also remaining stable is an optimistic financial outlook. Half of investors feel they are in a better financial position [...]

ATLANTA, April 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Randstad’s U.S. Employee Confidence Index rose to a six-month high in March, increasing 3.1 points from February to 57.1. In addition, workers reported the highest level of job security since May 2008, with 77 percent indicating it is unlikely they will lose their positions. These upticks reveal that American workers remain confident [...]

FRESNO — The Fresno State chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi surprised President Joseph I. Castro on April 2 by inducting him into membership as he “starts his legacy” at the university. Chapter President Dr. Janell Morillo presided over the special initiation in Fresno State’s Henry Madden Library. Castro had joined Phi Kappa Phi leaders [...]

NEW YORK, April 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – With the first quarter of the calendar year behind us and tax deadlines approaching, many Americans may be putting thought into where their money has gone in the recent past and where it might be going in the near future. While attitudes haven’t changed overwhelmingly since last December, some shifts in [...]

FRESNO – District Attorney Elizabeth A. Egan in conjunction with 31 other California District Attorneys and two city attorneys, has announced that a judge in Northern California has ordered the North Carolina-based Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC, to pay $18.1 million as part of a civil settlement for environmental violations. “Businesses operating in the state of [...]

Irvine, Calif., April 2, 2014 / PRNewswire / — CoreLogic® (NYSE: CLGX), a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled services provider, today released its February CoreLogic Home Price Index (HPI®) report. Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased 12.2 percent in February 2014 compared to February 2013. This change represents 24 months of consecutive year-over-year increases in [...]

FRESNO — The College of Health and Human Services will honor 13 individuals for their contribution to the community during the annual Community Heroes Awards event at 6 p.m. April 4 at the Smitcamp Alumni House on the Fresno State campus. The award recognizes the impact of individuals who work to meet the needs of children and [...]

TULARE – A ceremony honoring more than 200 deceased indigent people was held on March 28, 2014 at Tulare County Potter’s Field, located just north of Traver on the northwest corner of Road 36 and Ave. 376. The deceased were interred at Potter’s Field as part of the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency’s Indigent [...]

CHICAGO, April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – Temporary employment has accelerated since the last recession, and new data shows that an upward trajectory will continue throughout 2014.  According to CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI), more than 2.9 million U.S. workers were employed in temporary jobs in 2013, jumping 28 percent since 2010 and outpacing the 5 [...]

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., March 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – The first step in defining a corporate value proposition is clearly identifying how an organization’s products and/or services vary from their competitors- or what sets them apart. If a company cannot define a unique characteristic or benefit of their product, customers may default to the most basic option of differentiation [...]

FRESNO – On Tuesday, the Fresno County board of supervisors will vote on the appointment of a county counsel to replace outgoing Counsel, Kevin Briggs, whose last day with the County of Fresno was Friday.  Daniel Cederborg has been selected as the most qualified candidate through an open recruitment and interview process. “Mr. Cederborg will [...]

TULARE – Does your burger have bacteria? Is your taco too good to be true? Consumers who want to know if their favorite restaurant is handling their food with extra care can do so by checking out a list offered by the Tulare County Health & Human Service Agency’s Environmental Health Services (TCEH). The list [...]

HACKENSACK, N.J., March 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Strativity Group, the world leader in Customer Experience Transformation, presents the results of the 2014 Customer Experience Management survey:Customer Experience in Action Study. A benchmark for Customer Experience and Customer Relationship Management professionals worldwide, the study has previously been cited by numerous media organizations including: CNBC, Business Week, Associated Press, Fast Company, [...]

FRESNO – UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program wrapped up another successful recruitment period on March 21 – this year’s Match Day. As a result, 100 new physicians will start their residency and fellowship training at UCSF Fresno this summer.  One of the incoming medical residents is Andres Anaya. Anaya conducted third-year rotations in obstetrics and [...]

MENLO PARK, Calif., March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – Facebook has announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Oculus VR, Inc., the leader in immersive virtual reality technology, for a total of approximately $2 billion. This includes $400 million in cash and 23.1 million shares of Facebook common stock (valued at $1.6 billion based on the average closing price of the [...]

NEW YORK, March 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had decreased in February, improved in March. The Index now stands at 82.3 (1985=100), up from 78.3 in February. The Present Situation Index edged down to 80.4 from 81.0, while the Expectations Index increased to 83.5 from 76.5. The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey®, based [...]

TULARE – Youth and families in the communities of Earlimart, Exeter, Ivanhoe, and Lindsay will have more recreational options this summer during the weekends thanks to a Tulare County-sponsored program. Tulare County Summer Night Lights, a program designed to curb violence and other negative activity by keeping selected parks and recreational facilities open during the [...]

PLEASANTON, Calif. and SINGAPORE, March 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — TriReme Medical LLC, a subsidiary of Singapore based QT Vascular Ltd. announced today that the first three patients were enrolled in a clinical study of its unique drug-coated Chocolate(R) PTA balloon. Dr. Andrew Holden, co-Principal Investigator of the study, performed these procedures at Auckland City Hospital, in Auckland, New Zealand. The drug-coated Chocolate(R) [...]

FRESNO — As buzz mounts for the film “Cesar Chavez” that opens in 100 cities nationwide this week, Fresno State will hold its 18th annual Cesar E. Chavez Celebration and Garlanding Ceremony from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Peace Garden monument that memorializes the late farmworker leader. The guest speaker will be Mary Castro, the wife of University [...]