More than 1,100 people at the Fresno County Jail have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. The running tally of infections at the county-run complex actually surpasses those at all but two state prisons in California. But unlike the state’s careful tracking and reporting of cases at prisons …
Read More »Inside A CalMatters Investigation Of Merced County’s Lack Of Contact Tracing
One of the cornerstones of the COVID-19 response is contact tracing – when teams of people track down and get in touch with close contacts of those who have tested positive . In order to progress in reopening, Governor Gavin Newsom has required every county health department to take on …
Read More »It Used To Be Kern County’s Opioid Epicenter, But Oildale May Be Cleaning Up
This story is part of a series called In Recovery , about opioid addiction and treatment in the San Joaquin Valley. It was reported with the support of a 2018 Data Fellowship from the USC Center For Health Journalism . Charlie Huddleson has always been a religious man, but it …
Read More »Kern County’s Valley Fever Cases Rise For Fourth Year In A Row
Kern County has long been California’s epicenter for the fungal disease valley fever, and new data released Wednesday shows more people are contracting it. The county’s valley fever caseload in 2018 was its second highest ever recorded, said Kern County Public Health Services Director Matt Constantine during a press conference …
Read More »Kern County’s Opioid Users Lack Access To Much Needed Treatment
The sun is fading on a Wednesday night and people are trickling quietly into an office behind an unassuming parking lot in Northern Bakersfield. Inside, bright yellow chairs and plastic flamingoes lean against turquoise walls and Tom Petty’s on the radio. A chipper administrative assistant named Mary Lora greets people …
Read More »Believe it or not, Merced County’s population is fastest growing in the state
Merced County’s population rose in the past year by 1.8 percent outpacing every other county in the state, according to the California Department of Finance. The county is dwarfed by … Click to Continue »
Read More »These are the people preserving Merced County’s history, and how they’ll be honored
Several people and organizations who have worked to preserve and maintain Merced County history will be honored Sunday with awards and grants by the Merced County Historical Society. Here’s a … Click to Continue »
Read More »Newest judge takes her oath, the third woman in Merced County’s history to do so
Merced’s newest judge took the oath of office on Friday, becoming Merced County’s third female judge in history. Jeanne E. Schechter, 54, of La Grange joined the Merced County Superior … Click to Continue »
Read More »Peggy Heller educator named Merced County’s Teacher of the Year
A transitional kindergarten teacher from Atwater and a library clerk from Delhi took top honors at the 12th annual Merced County Excellence in Education Awards at the Merced Theatre this … Click to Continue »
Read More »Would a medical school at UC Merced fix the county’s doctor shortage?
More than 30,000 Merced County residents gained some form of health insurance when Medi-Cal was expanded in 2014. However, there was no corresponding increase in doctors to accept those patients … Click to Continue »
Read More »Want to address Merced County’s elected leaders in public? Better speak English
Non-English speaking residents of Merced County struggle to voice their opinions to the public officials they help elect, critics said Tuesday. Lupe Delgado, a healthcare outreach worker with the Parent … Click to Continue »
Read More »Merced County’s first — and only — black police chief to retire
After about 13 years as head of the Dos Palos Police Department, Chief Barry Mann has announced his plans to retire, he confirmed on Wednesday. His contract is good through … Click to Continue »
Read More »Merced County’s Vanessa Smith went missing 20 years ago today. The search continues
Beverly Smith stood near an almond tree Tuesday afternoon on Winton Way, the place where the last known traces of her daughter were found 20 years ago. Her daughter, Vanessa, … Click to Continue »
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