With Merced residents illegally shooting off fireworks at all hours, the city's police chief and fire chief have launched a crackdown that includes citing property owners. "It's not just an annoyance, it's dangerous," police chief Thomas Cavallero said last week. "And it's going to be costly" for offenders. Citations for...
Merced High-Speed Chase Yields Meth Trafficking Indictment
A federal grand jury indicted Richard Charles Thomas Jr., 38, of Merced, charging him Thursday with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Aug. 25, 2020, Thomas led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase through the city of...
3 of 6 Merced Jail Escapees Back in Custody. Search for Others Continues.
Two more inmates who escaped from Merced's downtown jail — including one facing a murder charge — were arrested near the Mexico border hours after another escapee was nabbed west of Fresno, authorities said Wednesday. Fabian Cruz Roman, 22, and Andres Nunez Rodriguez, 21, were captured Tuesday south of San...
Merced Leaders Want To Make City Sparkle
The Merced City Council is making it easier for residents to beautify their city and get rid of large unwanted items such as old couches, mattresses, and appliances. On Monday, the council expanded the days of operation for the bulky item drop-off site at Highway 59 and Yosemite Avenue. The...
Staffer Caught Up in Merced Legislator’s Political Rift. It Involves Valley Water, Too
Adam Gray, like his 79 other colleagues in the California Assembly, is supposed to be in Sacramento this week conducting the people's business. Because of COVID-19, the Legislature's return has been delayed until Jan. 11. When Gray does resume work in the state's capital, he might be happy to see...
Radicalized UC Merced Student’s Attack Plan Released by FBI
A troubled UC Merced freshman who burst into a classroom in 2015, stabbing four people before police shot him dead, planned to praise Allah while slitting the throats of classmates and use a gun taken from an ambushed officer to kill more, according to records released by the FBI. Authorities...
5-Year-Old Merced Girl Accidentally Shot, Killed by Young Relative
MERCED — A 5-year-old Merced girl was accidentally shot and killed by a juvenile member of her family and the girl's father was arrested for child endangerment, police said. Officers responded to a report of a gunshot heard inside a home Thursday and found evidence of a shooting, the Merced...
Merced’s World Champion Sandwich Maker Adds to Her Legend
Two-time World Sandwich champion Kelli Fairchild-Cochran has added to her culinary laurels. The Merced caterer finished fourth at "Final Table: Indy" this month, winning $2,000. The Indianapolis competition hosted by World Food Championships was filmed for a one-hour television special airing Oct. 3 on Cooking Channel. She Won WFC's Main...
Without a Trace: This California County Has Stopped Contact Tracing as Coronavirus Surges
A month ago, everyone in Merced County infected with the coronavirus got a call from county officials, asking questions about whom they’d come in contact with. It’s a tracing process that experts say is critical to stopping the spread of the highly infectious disease. Now, facing a five-fold increase in...
Merced, Clovis Among State’s Fastest-Growing Cities
Merced and Clovis cracked the list of 10 fastest-growing cities in California, according to May data from the state Department of Finance. Merced grew at a 2.37% clip in 2019 and now has 88,120 residents. The city ranks sixth in the state in growth percentage. Clovis is the state's 10th...