Legislators address hospital closure crisis
Senator Anna M. Caballero (D-Merced), Speaker-Designate Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria (D-Merced) recently announced the passage of SB/AB 112 approved in both the Senate and Assembly.
The Distressed Hospital Loan Program, funded with $150 million, will provide loans to not-for-profit and public hospitals in…
Merced County signs software contract to improve permitting…
The Merced County Board of Supervisors has selected a new software platform and operations provider to power their local government’s digital transformation…
Residents gather to kick off Measure C renewal campaign
Police officers, first responders, political figures and swaths of passionate citizens gathered on the steps of City Hall to officially launch…
Los Banos Council changes rule to protect its rehired city manager
By Brianna Vaccari
Central Valley Journalism Collaborative
Los Banos city leaders have decided to give a strong layer of job security to Joshua Pinheiro, the city manager who was fired last year but then won his job back in February along with a settlement payment of $1.8 million.
The council voted 3-1 on April 5 to approve a measure that…
City Council upholds plan for cannabis on Motel Drive
The Merced City Council — with a majority of leaders who have voiced support for expanded cannabis ventures in town — has denied an appeal to stop a commercial…
Mercedian named Woman of Year for Senate Dist. 4
Senator Anna M. Caballero (D-Merced) named Tamara Cobb Woman of the Year 2023 for Senate District 14, and presented her with a Resolution at the…
Interim chief impressed with MPD, community
Merced's new interim police chief, Craig Gundlach, only expects to be here somewhere between four and six months but his goal is to leave the Merced Police Department in even better shape when his stint is over.
Gundlach, 53, has 31 years of law enforcement experience and retired in December 2019 as a captain with the Modesto Police…
City Council votes to grow more sites for cannabis retail
When Merced started approving merit-based cannabis retail permits in 2018, they only allowed for four dispensaries, in certain commercial zones, with no on-site…
County’s new Registrar of Voters begins community outreach
The monthly luncheon of the Merced County Republican Women Federated on Monday was jam-packed with longtime members and curious guests inside the…
Bills target rise in homelessness among aging Californians
State Senator Anna M. Caballero (D-Merced) has introduced a series of bills to address the rise in homelessness among California’s senior aging population.
“California seniors are at great risk because of the rapid rise of the costs of housing,” Caballero said. “Most have worked their entire lives; find it difficult to manage a budget on a…