High-Speed Rail Is California’s Next Great Legacy
By Ian Choudri
When I accepted the CEO role at the California High-Speed Rail Authority, I understood the challenges ahead. Yet, the significance of this endeavor—the nation’s first true high-speed rail system—extends beyond trains and tracks. It's about delivering opportunity and economic empowerment to communities throughout California.…
Support Gray With The Black Vote
By ANTOINE HUBBARD SR.
As a long-time citizen of Merced, I have enjoyed working with Adam Gray and his team over the years while he fulfilled his duties…
Love Letter To YARTS
Despite “Gateway to Yosemite” being such a ubiquitous statement in Merced, I never feel like I go as often as I should.
Sometimes years pass…
HARVESTING DREAMS: A Central Valley native’s medical odyssey
In a state as diverse as California, where Latinos constitute nearly 40 percent of the population, it was disheartening to learn that Latino physicians represent only around 5 percent of the physician workforce.
By ALEX VALENZUELA
Special to the County Times
Raised in the rural landscape of Planada, I grew up in a family of farm…
Time Is Ticking On Significant Health Plan Contract…
At Dignity Health, we're committed to improving the health of the communities we serve, and especially the most vulnerable. This doesn't happen…
The Typewriter That Helped Start The Times
Editor’s Note: This is one of a few remaining editorials that Times Publisher John Derby had left unpublished before his passing on Tuesday this week. It’s…
Publisher’s Predictions For Year 2024
As we look into the crystal ball of the future, we see many things for our valley, and they include major battles on the political front, all while two candidates for president of the nation go head to head.
War will make the headlines, and the cost of living will continue to increase.
California will continue to lead the way in taxes,…
A look back at the best classic car shows of 2023
Year 2023 was a good one for Merced area old car enthusiasts and I am confident that 2024 will be as good if not better.
Vintage vehicle enthusiasts…
Dangerous driving is making our streets unsafe
Lately I have been seeing something out on the road that scares me to pieces and I just can't keep quiet about it.
Traffic signals have three elements,…
The Christmas Strawberry
By John & Kathy Derby
First published in 1977
In our backyard every summer we grew a marvelous crop of strawberries.
The plants were there before we moved here, and although they moved from one spot to another, we had never tried to cultivate them, as such, they just seemed to grow at their own pace.
Normally by the first fall frost…