James Octaviano Green likes to use his middle name whenever he can, because it’s the name of his grandfather, and he’s proud of it.

The resident of Hickman, who graduated from Hughson High School, is making his parents proud by pursuing his college education and exceeding their expectations with his eye on graduate school, thanks to the McNair Scholars Program.

All regional and national indicators point to further slowing of economic activity in the coming months. As the longest-lasting period of expansion comes to an end, it is important for the business community to begin positioning itself to consider this change in the dynamics of the Valley economy. 

That outlook is according to the biannual San Joaquin Valley Business Forecast produced by Gökçe Soydemir, the Foster Farms endowed professor of business economics at Stanislaus State. 

Here are some of the report’s highlights: 

Stan State, already a smoke, vape and nicotine-free campus, is participating in this year’s Great American Smokeout on Nov. 21 in a very big way — by celebrating that 84.5 percent of Stan State students report that they have never smoked cigarettes and 89.5 percent say they have never used e-cigarettes or vaping products.

The California State University Board of Trustees Special Committee to Consider the Selection of the Chancellor has started the search process for the next chancellor by hosting the first two of six scheduled open forum at Sacramento State and Cal State East Bay.

Upcoming forums are as follows:

On any given day, 30 or more veterans make their way through Stan State's Student Veteran Center for a cup of coffee, to study or just shoot the breeze with fellow veterans.