NECK AND NECK AFTER ELECTION NIGHT
Razor thin margins
in a few Council races
By JOHN MILLER &
JONATHAN WHITAKER
The Election Night drama that played out on TV sets across the nation was no different in the Merced area and its local races.
There were surprising results, too-close-to-call situations, and cautionary mention that more…
Big plans for Merced’s downtown HSR station
High Speed Rail progress in California has had its share of exorbitant costs, troubled construction, and criticism from naysayers; however, planners and…
Ambriz looking to stay course, keep Atwater moving forward
Atwater City Councilman Danny Ambriz is running for reelection to retain the District 3 seat after a four-year term in office.
District 3 is…
Murphy wants good things to happen with public safety, public works, city-sponsored sports
Many Atwater residents recognize the name Jim The Plumber because he’s been in countless homes and businesses to fix water and sewage issues.
And then, there are the campaign signs.
Yes, Jim The Plumber is also a political candidate.
Actually, the candidate’s full name is James Murphy — a local plumbing contractor with a…
Ballots Drop! Election Day is less than a month away
This week, registered voters across California — including about 125,000 in Merced County — are receiving their 2022 General Election Vote by Mail Ballots.…
Caballero presents check for emergency training center
A future training center for firefighters and public safety responders in Merced is $3 million closer to fruition.
State Senator Anna Caballero, who…
Zoning change for shopping centers opens way for unexpected apartments
By MICHAEL BELLUOMINI
On Sept. 6, the Merced City Council changed the zoning ordinance to allow up to 35 apartments per acre in neighborhood shopping centers and professional office areas. The zoning ordinance has allowed apartments by conditional use permit in commercial and office areas for years and the change proposed by staff was…
Councilman Blake looks beyond election to a better place
Kevin Blake remembers a conversation with his children and late father during a ride to Santa Cruz when the idea of running for the Merced City Council came…
County leaders call for probe into errors on mailed ballots
The controversy over incorrect mail-in ballots has finally reached the Merced County’s elected officials, who called Tuesday for an outside investigation into what went wrong.
Last week, more than 4,100 voters in Atwater, Gustine, Merced, Los Banos and Santa Nella received mail-in ballots with the wrong information. The worst came…