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In 2019, Merced County and its partners took significant steps forward in several key areas that impact the lives of our residents. As we move into a new year of progress, I’d like to take a moment to recap some of our accomplishments over the past year. One of our foremost challenges as a county is one that spans across California. That is…

Community colleges play a vastly under-appreciated role in the life of a town, a region and a state. In California, we understand that better…

The Merced Community College District has placed a $247-million bond (Measure J) on the March 3 ballot because this valued community institution needs…

By Mike Biddison Bestselling author Michael Lewis appeared at UC Merced last Friday evening, where he lauded the local university as a “society-changing institution.” Lewis’ remarks were in front of a packed house of approximately 500 people who had RSVP’d in advance for the second in a series of “Conversations with the…

When I was growing up, before I became a lawyer and started serving on the Merced College Board of Trustees, one of my favorite stories was the…

By Lee Pevsner If the answer is NEVER, you better be 12 years old, or not a citizen of the USA. The turnout in Merced County for the last election…

By Mike Biddison To whom much is given, much is required. That’s the code Esmerelda Soria’s mother drilled into her as the girl grew up in Tulare County. Born in the City of Lindsay, a first generation U.S. citizen to her Mexican immigrant farmworker parents, Soria now sits on the Fresno City Council. For the past 6 months, though, she…

Atwater High School (AHS) held its annual Football Banquet to recognize players, coaches and parents on January 6th in the school cafeteria. By…

By MIKE BIDDISON Special to the Times Noor Zamani moved his family to California in 2005, but he hasn’t been able to spend all that time with them.…

From the family of Eldon George Our precious father, 86 years young, passed into the arms of Jesus Christ on Nov. 5. Dad was born in Merced on May 1, 1933, to Tony and Helen George. He grew up on the dairy and sweet potato ranch. He farmed with his father and mother and they had many farm animals but dad's favorite was Frankie,…