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This story was published in collaboration with KVPR. When James Hunt planted 14 acres of agave on his secluded Merced farm last year, he thought he’d harvest it for liquor. After all, for centuries, Mexico has capitalized on distilling agave into tequila and mezcal. The vision was picturesque – rows of large, spiky succulents rooted in […] The post As state water law threatens Valley farms,…
Merced residents rallying around the alleged abuse of Sweetie, a husky belonging to an unhoused man, took their fight to the city council meeting Monday night, demanding justice for the dog and stronger local action against widespread animal abuse. Sweetie’s case went viral earlier this month as photos and videos of the dog’s thin skeletal […] The post After concerns mount over ‘Sweetie,’ Merced…
Roger Wood was a Merced County icon and trailblazer who hosted the program “Community Conversations” on KYOS. Following his recent passing, we are inviting our readers to share their stories and photographs of Roger. We will collect these stories and publish them online in a tribute before his celebration of life, scheduled for Wednesday, August […] The post Readers, tell us your Roger Wood…
Water is flowing back into Greenhills Estates’ lakes in Chowchilla, but the legal disputes are far from over. After more than a year of disputes over lake maintenance, water bills and a lawsuit, a group of current and former homeowners is now formally challenging the Greenhills Master Association Board (HOA). Meanwhile, Martin Boone, a Pheasant […] The post Greenhills legal fight grows in…
The grandmother of 8-year-old Sophia Mason, whose body was found in a north Merced home in 2022, will receive a $12 million settlement, following allegations Bay Area social workers failed to protect the child. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors made the announcement earlier this month that Sophia’s grandmother Sylvia Johnson would receive the amount. […] The post Family awarded $12 million…
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made an appearance in Atwater on Thursday, where he unveiled a new funding stream for health clinics nationwide, $102 million aimed at expanding access to primary care, including in rural communities. Kennedy, accompanied by federal Health Resources and Services Administrator Thomas Engels, made the announcement […] The post Robert F.…
This story was published in collaboration with KVPR. MADERA, Calif. — Madera College faculty walked off the job and called out sick from work last week to protest the return of an administrator who was placed on leave after he allegedly dressed up as a former faculty leader for a Halloween costume contest last fall. Cory […] The post After Halloween costume mockery, Madera College admin returns.…
Vanessa Barahona received a call this past spring from Angelica at Kern Family Health Care in Bakersfield, California, telling her it was time to renew her coverage under Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid. Angelica helped Barahona, 41, schedule an appointment to complete her paperwork in person at Kern Family’s offices before she submitted it […] The post AI is being used to boost Medicaid…
In late July at UC Merced, a classroom of middle school students split into teams for a game of Jeopardy. One problem: if the base of a 12-foot ladder rests 3 feet from a wall, how high up the wall does the ladder reach? After the teacher sketched a triangle, students immediately recognized the concept. […] The post A summer camp at UC Merced helps middle-school students enjoy and conquer math…
When it comes to the upcoming general election, to quote the late, great Glenn Frey, “The Heat Is On.” That means the Nov. 3 ballot is coming into sharper focus, as the deadline passed Friday for candidates to run for several local offices in Merced County. The only exception is those races where an eligible […] The post Key city races take shape in Merced County. See who made the filing deadline…
