The Department of Water Resources (DWR) this week conducted the fifth snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 59 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 30 inches, which is 241 percent of average for this location on May 1. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water still contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply run-off forecast. DWR’s electronic readings from 130 snow sensors placed throughout the state indicate the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 49.2 inches, or 254 percent of average for t ..read more

By Brianna Vaccari Central Valley Journalism Collaborative Los Banos city leaders have decided to give a strong layer of job security to Joshua Pinheiro, the city manager who was fired last year but then won his job back in February along with a settlement payment of $1.8 million. The council voted 3-1 on April 5 to approve a measure that means that, should it wish to fire Pinheiro again, doing so would require a unanimous vote. Mayor Paul Llanez was absent from the five-member council. Pinheiro, 36, returned to the city manager’s role on Feb. 21, eight months after he was fired for reasons t ..read more

‘Fentanyl is one of the most dangerous and deadly drugs we have ever encountered, and it is killing those in our community.’ — Nicole Silveira, Merced County District Attorney District Attorney Nicole Silveira singled out the drug fentanyl as a “killer among us” during Merced County’s annual Victims’ Rights Ceremony at Courthouse Park on Tuesday.  “Many of you sitting here today have lost a loved one to unimaginable crimes — shootings, stabbings, violent attacks that have taken your loved ones from you,” Silveira told those in attendance, including family members and friends who hugged ..read more

  Merced’s top boutique and destination hotel — a renovated jewel for the downtown area — will be under new management starting in June, according to a press release sent to the Times just before the press deadline this week. The Austin-based hotel group New Waterloo will be taking over management for El Capitan Hotel in Merced, according to the announcement. “We are delighted and humbled to work with the team at El Capitan Hotel,” said Bart Knaggs, the CEO of New Waterloo. “We look forward to supporting the people in place, as well as furthering their efforts to connect and enhance thei ..read more

  Two local women who have been best friends for years have opened up Merced’s latest cycling store — Adventum Bikes — in the Bear Creek Village retail center, right next door to the Los Panchos restaurant at 2975 G Street. Andrea Velasquez, a nurse practitioner, and Corina Diaz, a school teacher, wanted to start a venture that would encourage healthy lifestyles in their hometown. “We thought of a unique bike store that would provide quality bikes to promote health and wellness in the community,” Velasquez told the Times. “We are really trying to get people out and about.” Velasquez ..read more

The public is invited to attend the UC Merced University Friends Circle (UFC) Luncheon on Tuesday, April 4. The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Mainzer Theater, 655 West Main Street, Merced. During the event, Professor Josh Viers will present the discussion “Food Innovation Initiative.” Viers is a watershed scientist with expertise in resource management and environmental decision making. He is a faculty member in the UC Merced Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is the Director of UC Merced’s VICE Lab, whose faculty and students focus on pressing envi ..read more

  Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto, along with Merced County Supervisor Rodrigo Espinoza, Ralph Gladwin of Merced Walks, and Natalie Sturgeon of Just Serve Merced County, among many others, helped organize a “Clean California” event in Planada last Saturday. Clean California Community Days is a statewide, 11-day event, held March 17 to March 27. The goal is to work together to clean up our communities and spread the word about taking pride in keeping California clean. Clean California also provides state funds to clean and beautify public spaces in underserved communities. The effort ..read more

  Senator Anna M. Caballero (D-Merced) named Tamara Cobb Woman of the Year 2023 for Senate District 14, and presented her with a Resolution at the State Capitol in Sacramento on March 20. The ceremony, a part of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus: California Women Making Herstory, honors women selected by each member of the Assembly and Senate who make significant contributions to their community. This year, Senator Caballero selected a native of Merced and a wonderful community leader. Cobb was the first Black family support officer to work for the Merced District Attorney’s of ..read more

Merced County Association of Governments has welcomed James Moore to its management team as the new Director for the Merced County Regional Waste Management Authority (RWA). Moore began his career in the U.S. Air Force where he held a number of civil and industrial engineering positions during his 10 years of active duty at various bases throughout the continental United States. Upon completion of his service, Moore enlisted in the California Air National Guard while he worked for the County of Fresno in the solid waste division. During his time in Fresno, he learned about environmental monit ..read more

The West Side Theatre in Newman is pleased to announce our March & April events. The venue is our beautifully restored 1940s movie house, now a non-profit arts center. March 25 at 8 p.m. — CARNAVAL – A Tribute to the Music of Santana (formerly Caravanserai) The new assemblage of these San Francisco Bay Area top musicians, have rebranded as Carnaval having spent decades honing their craft to bring you the legendary sounds of Santana. You’ll hear all the hits from those early years through the new favorites of today.  All of it played with the same instrumentation, soul and passion ..read more