Last week, the Fresno-based California Table Grape Commission secured $2.2 million in federal funding to expand its international marketing efforts, part of a broader push by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to strengthen export opportunities for American agriculture.

In a press release, commission president Ian LeMay said the award “represents a meaningful investment in the continued success of the California table grape industry and the communities the industry supports.”

A proposal moving through the California Legislature is drawing sharp opposition from business groups, who warn it could raise costs for consumers, strain international trade relationships, and make the state a global outlier in corporate taxation.

At the same time, proponents say that closing the largest corporate tax loophole in the state is just common sense.

Paid sick leave remains one of the most complex and frequently debated workplace issues in California, particularly under the state’s Healthy Workplace, Healthy Families Act. For employers, the challenge is striking a balance between complying with strict legal protections and maintaining effective attendance policies.