WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – Menthol cigarettes are much more likely to be used by youth and young adult smokers than older smokers and are undermining efforts to reduce smoking in the United States, according to a new study published today in the journal Tobacco Control .  The study also found that menthol smoking rates have increased among young [...]

LONDON, September 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – The world’s largest lottery site is aiming to expand its reach with the launch of WinTrillions Casino, a brand new gaming platform launching in over 140 countries today. Having obtained a gaming licence in Alderney in 2012, WinTrillions has partnered with Playtech, the world’s largest online gaming software supplier, to provide the platform [...]

FRESNO – The Big Fresno Fair is seeking volunteers for its popular 21st Annual Fair Education Program, which brings Fresno County elementary students to the Fair for free during the 2013 Big Fresno Fair Oct. 2-14. Volunteers are being sought to help direct students, assist with activities and answer questions in the Fair’s various exhibit [...]

OAKHURST – A number of milestones are coming up in Yosemite, the first of which is the 150th Anniversary of the signing of the Yosemite Grant on June 30, 1864 by President Abraham Lincoln.   The Grant set aside Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove for preservation and enjoyment. These milestones will be celebrated in and around Yosemite, with [...]

NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – As the nation gears up for the start of the 2013-14 school year, DDB Worldwide, part of Omnicom Group (NYSE), has issued a new report using data from the DDB Life Style Study® about parental attitudes in the US regarding the back-to-school season, homework and the length of time their kids are [...]

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — As mobile Internet services mature, most smartphone users now expect operators to provide flawless access with zero downtime or quality issues. This expectation extends to the apps consumers use, with more blame being placed on mobile network operators than any other party, including the app developer, when experiences fall [...]

FRESNO  – Susan G. Komen Central Valley has announced its “15 Faces for 15 Races” for the 15th annual Susan G. Komen Central Valley Race for the Cure, coming to Fresno State on Oct. 26. The 15 individuals, who will be showcased at this year’s Race for the Cure, are some of the most recognized [...]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The pendulum of the U.S. economy remains on the upswing, according to the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) monthly Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), released today. The economic indicator, shown to lead U.S. business cycles by an average of eight months at cycle peaks, increased 0.1 percent over July on a three-month moving average [...]

FRESNO – In the 1970s Fresno State alumnus John W. Long decided to leave his estate to Fresno State. Mr. Long worked in retail, selling men’s clothes in Los Angeles. He had no wife or children, and believed that through an estate gift to Fresno State he could make a difference in the lives of [...]

BASS LAKE – Bass Lake was the center of car activity this past Saturday for the inaugural Bass Lake Hot Rod and Classic Car Show, sponsored by the Bass Lake Chamber of Commerce and Budweiser. About 55  cars were on display throughout The Pines Village, a great turnout for a first year event according to [...]

ATLANTA, Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – As Labor Day weekend approaches, many workers are preparing to get a final taste of summer with trips to the beach and barbeques with family and friends. However, the inaugural Workcation Nation Survey from PGi (NYSE: PGi), a global leader in virtual meetings for more than 20 years, found that 42 percent of U.S. employees choose to check [...]

REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – Microsoft Corp. has announced that Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer has decided to retire as CEO within the next 12 months, upon the completion of a process to choose his successor. In the meantime, Ballmer will continue as CEO and will lead Microsoft through the next steps of its transformation to a devices [...]

CLOVIS – Dozens of St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway sponsors and supporters visited this year’s St. Jude Dream Home in De Young Properties’ CountryCourt community in Clovis Friday to write messages of love for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The floor signing for the 10th St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway occurred just over a [...]

FRESNO — University High School’s long list of accolades has grown with the release of a University of Southern California report naming the school the second best charter high school in the state. The seventh-annual USC School Performance Dashboard, prepared by USC’s Center on Educational Governance, was developed to strengthen accountability among California’s charter schools. [...]

CHICAGO, Aug. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — A failure to negotiate a job offer means many workers are leaving money on the table. A new CareerBuilder survey finds that even though 45 percent of employers are willing – and expect – to negotiate salaries for initial job offers, almost half (49 percent) of workers accept the first offer [...]

TULARE – The International Agri-Center will host a “Business After Hours” mixer in Tulare today at 5:30 p.m. The event, which will also include a mural dedication, will give the business community an opportunity to network and learn about the many special events the International Agri-Center’s facilities can host. Attendees will learn about local businesses and [...]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – Economic growth continues to gain momentum in the second half of the year, as expected, despite the slow start at the beginning of 2013. Fannie Mae’s (OTC Bulletin Board: FNMA) Economic & Strategic Research Group’s full-year forecast for both the economy and housing market remains on track, with GDP expected [...]

FRESNO – The West Fresno Family Resource Center has singled out and announced three honorees for its annual fundraiser “This is Your Life of Service:  A Tribute to Community Health Champions.” The three award recipients are Dr. Dominic Dizon with UCSF Fresno; Stephen W. Schilling, chief executive officer with Clinica Sierra Vista; and Sharon Johnson, [...]

SEATTLE, Aug. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — National home value appreciation rose again in July, up 0.4 percent from June to a Zillow® Home Value Index[i] of $161,600, according to the July Zillow Real Estate Market Reports[ii]. Home values were up 6 percent year-over-year in July, the 14th straight month of annual appreciation and the first time year-over-year appreciation rates [...]

FRESNO – The Associated Press is reporting that Fresno County Supervisor Phil Larson had been taken to a hospital today around noon due to a medical emergency, resulting in the rest of today’s supervisors’ meeting being canceled. Larson represents District 1 and was sworn into his position on Jan. 6, 2003.  He started a second [...]