By Luciana Chavez City of Merced Fire Chief Derek Parker was just a volunteer administering shots to Merced County residents when he met Merced College President Chris Vitelli at the school’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic back in February. It was a quick exchange, Vitelli shaking Parker’s hand and saying, “Hey, if you ever want to partner up on…

The Young Patriots Challenge (YPC), a local contest with a patriotic theme, will be held in Atwater between Sept. 13 and 17. Because our citizens’…

The much-heralded start of in-person education at all levels — from UC Merced to elementary schools — is also opening the door to in-person local school board…

Kids Discovery Station, the first ever children’s museum in Merced, is expected to open to the general public at the end of September and provide children from birth to age 12 with fun and valuable learning experiences.  Its location is 350 W. Yosemite Avenue in Merced, across the street from Merced College. The museum is asking for more…

Merced College will celebrate its new men’s and women’s soccer programs, which will compete in the California Community Colleges Athletics…

The leap in pediatric COVID cases has become concerning as school campuses reopen for in-person instruction. It’s especially troubling because…

UC Merced officials are optimistic that hundreds of their students facing an unanticipated local housing shortage will have a place to rest their heads this week and throughout the opening of the fall semester. The state fire marshal has agreed to allow additional beds to on-campus housing — up to the maximum capacity — along with some added…

“Schools are the best and safest place for students to learn, succeed and thrive.” If this message wasn’t clear before, it should be in the…

The Merced County Courthouse Museum wouldn’t be in operation if it weren’t for the hard work of volunteer docents who put in plenty of hours every…