Dave and Jamie

Merced optimistic about latest spending plan

For the next month, City Council members will continue to scrutinize what local government officials are calling the first "sustainable" budget in years.

At an ongoing series of public meetings, local officials are hearing community feedback on the proposed $191.96 million spending plan.

Last week, area leaders heard from several groups asking bigger pieces of what has become a very carefully sliced pie.

Farmers renew push for higher milk price

Dairy farmers Monday urged the state yet again to boost minimum prices they get from processors.

Western United Dairymen, based in Modesto, and allied groups asked the California Department of Food and Agriculture to increase the price for milk that is made into cheese.

Merced City Council backs cash incentive for businesses wanting to move downtown

The City Councilman unanimously backed an evolving plan hatched by Councilman Mike Murphy that would provide a roughly $1,000 incentive for new businesses that open downtown.

Parking or bike lanes? City puts off decision

City officials looked to the City Council for direction Monday night as they continue to fine tune a plan to make about 10 miles of roads in south and central Merced more bike friendly.

At a council meeting in April, several council members voiced concerns with the proposed use of "sharrows" on Childs Avenue because of the heavy traffic in the area.

Police arrest friend after man is stabbed

A 62-year-old man was arrested during the weekend on suspicion of stabbing his friend during an argument, authorities reported Monday.

Police want to know how men were shot

An investigation is continuing into the case of two men who showed up at Mercy Medical Center during the weekend with gunshot wounds, Merced police reported Monday.

Run of weekend fires keep crews hopping

Merced firefighters responded to several fires over the weekend — and they say some may be the result of arson.

Stevinson pot bust puts two in custody

Two men were arrested Friday by the Merced County Sheriff's STAR Team on suspicion of running a marijuana operation in the Stevinson area.

Body in canal may be ATV accident victim

Emergency crews reportedly recovered a body Monday from a canal in the Planada area after an all-terrain vehicle the victim was driving plunged into the water.

Bright Harvest: Local farms bursting with ripening fruits

The hot valley sun has started beaming down on area farms, ripening fruits such as blueberries, cherries, apricots and strawberries. Through fall, fresh and locally produced fruits will fill farm stands and markets.

Fruit harvested in Merced County brings in a gross return of $132 million, according to the county agricultural department's latest annual crop report.

That's nowhere near the more than $1.1 billion provided by the county's top farm commodity, dairy, but agricultural officials say such crops are an important part of the area's economic landscape.