On Gavin Newsom’s first full day in office, Jan. 8, 2019, the newly elected governor stood before the cameras, clad in jeans and sneakers and surrounded by emergency responders, and declared war on wildfires. “Everybody has had enough,” the governor said, announcing he’d signed a sweeping executive order overhauling the …
Read More »‘It Would Mean Total Annihilation’ – Some Farmers Sell Off Fields Ahead Of Groundwater Law
Even with his eyes closed, Doug Martin can recognize the sound of every tractor on his Hanford ranch. There’s the big silver work horse, and the 40-year-old Oliver that can still run his backup generator, but the one he looks at with love is a tiny green thing from 1958. …
Read More »Madera City Council Stops Laguna Knolls Evictions Ahead Of 2020 Renter Protections
The Madera City Council passed an ordinance last night to support residents who were about to be evicted before the holidays , and before state law Assembly Bill 1482 goes into effect, enforcing stronger renter protections. Residents were overjoyed by the unanimous decision. Over fifty people packed into the council …
Read More »Herb Alpert Still Striving For Artistic Perfection, Ahead Of Bakersfield Concert
Even if he didn’t sell 72 million recordings, with 15 gold albums, and five number one hits – Herb Alpert would still be a music industry icon. For while he’s best known as the trumpet player behind the instrumental pop sounds of the Tijuana Brass of the 1960’s and 70’s, …
Read More »Merced County will continue seeing rain. But there’s hope for sunbathers ahead
It’s been a colder precipitous March than previous years in Merced County, and the rain will continue through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. But after that, the … Click to Continue »
Read More »Valley Citrus Grower Loses 90 Workers Ahead of ICE Inspection
The law enforcement agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, may be ramping up its inspections of worksites—and a Valley grower is one of the first to feel the consequences. Fowler-based Bee Sweet Citrus says it may have lost a fifth of its workforce in anticipation of an inspection by …
Read More »California moves ahead with one delta tunnel, scaling back ambitious water delivery project
California officials Wednesday said they will press ahead with a smaller version of a long-planned water delivery project, initially building one, instead of two, massive tunnels in the heart of … Click to Continue »
Read More »Controversy renewed ahead of possible appointment of interim city manager in Atwater
A year has passed since Atwater began its grueling search for a new city manager and the City Council has made zero progress — but that could change Monday. Art … Click to Continue »
Read More »DUI checkpoint tonight in Merced County. Why do police announce them ahead of time?
California Highway Patrol will be on the watch for drunk drivers with a DUI and driver license checkpoint Friday night somewhere in Merced County. The checkpoint will be between the … Click to Continue »
Read More »How will a new leader fix Los Banos Unified? By looking ahead – not to the rocky past.
After a tumultuous year for the Los Banos Unified School District, a new superintendent hopes to leave past controversies behind and focus on moving the district – and its students … Click to Continue »
Read More »China charging ahead into ‘cleantech’ future
In 2009, when the world tried to negotiate a successor for the Kyoto Protocol in Copenhagen, the United States blamed the weak and unbinding agreement on China’s unwillingness to accept … Click to Continue »
Read More »‘People are afraid’: Merced residents rush to get citizenship ahead of Trump policies
More than a hundred people huddle in the cramped waiting room of Central California Legal Services in Merced hoping on Saturday to get a few steps closer to citizenship, spurred … Click to Continue »
Read More »Drought: Homeowners Building Pools Ahead of Potential Ban
Homeowners are deciding to build pools now before any potential bans are put in place on construction. Some communities across the state have already passed water restrictions for swimming pools. The Town of Coalinga established a ban on new pool construction at one point and there’s also a ban in Montecito near Santa Barbara. Family …
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