A five-month-old child in Merced County has tested positive for COVID-19, health officials said Wednesday. It's the county's first infant-related infection and the health department is expressing concern about an uptick in the number of children contracting the disease. “It is crucial that we protect the vulnerable populations in our...
Mobile COVID-19 Testing Comes to Merced
Merced County will activate mobile COVID-19 testing sites for those showing symptoms of the disease, according to a news release from the county's health department. Testing will be done in two locations each week — one on the west side of the county and one on the east side. Specific...
Father Arrested in Killings of His Valley Born Children
A former Fresno man about to be freed from prison has been taken into custody in connection with the decades-old killings of five of his infant children in a case a sheriff said has haunted his agency for years. Paul Perez, 57, a convicted sex offender with a 20-year criminal...
Merced Man Sentenced for Aiding Alleged Killer of Cpl. Ronil Singh
A man in the United States illegally was sentenced to 21 months in prison in Fresno federal court Wednesday for helping a suspect try to escape to his native Mexico after officials say he killed a Newman police officer. Erik Quiroz Razo, 28, of Merced, had faced a maximum of...
Power Returns in Merced After More Than 2 Hour Blackout
Nearly 15,000 PG&E customers in Merced were without electricity Friday for more than two hours likely because of vehicle accidents. Power was lost at 7:39 a.m. and returned about 10 a.m. "We have confirmed two separate car versus pole accidents in the area, one of which is being investigated as...
California Is a Wondrous Place. I’m Leaving.
To me, California has always been an amazing place with a wondrous geography far more diverse than the other two largest states. This helps explain why historically it has been such a beacon for so many Americans, including myself, seeking a golden future in the Golden State. But not just...
Former Merced Healthcare CEO Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison
A former Merced healthcare executive is headed to federal prison for five years for fraud. U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neil handed Sandra Haar, 59, the prison sentence and ordered her to pay $6.1 million in restitution Monday in a Fresno courtroom. Haar was ordered to self-surrender Jan. 15 to begin...
Woman Who Livestreamed Fatal Merced Crash Arrested Again
STOCKTON — A California woman on parole after serving a sentence for driving drunk while livestreaming a crash that killed her younger sister in Merced County was arrested Thursday after crashing a car during a police pursuit, officials said. Officers arrested Obdulia Sanchez, 20, on weapons and traffic charges and...
Special Ops Plane That Led POW Rescue Mission Coming to Castle Air Museum
A military plane that played a pivotal role in a daring Vietnam War mission will make Castle Air Museum in Atwater its new home. Aircraft 0212, a Lockheed MC-130P outfitted for special operations, helped guide the daring 1970 Son Tay Raid to rescue prisoners of war being held captive in...
Giant Plane That Led POW Rescue Mission Coming to Castle Air Museum
A military plane that played a pivotal role in a daring Vietnam War mission will make Castle Air Museum in Atwater its new home. Aircraft 0212, a Lockheed MC-130P outfitted for special operations, helped guide the daring 1970 Son Tay Raid to rescue prisoners of war being held captive in...