Brianna Vaccari, The Merced FOCUS

With fewer than 200 votes between the candidates in Congressional District 13, Democrat Adam Gray declared victory Tuesday evening over Republican incumbent John Duarte.

The countywide public safety tax likely won’t receive the necessary two-thirds approval to pass. But in Livingston, Measure L is on track to succeed.

Merced County’s largest school district has been put on notice by a legal group that a statement read during public school board meetings may expose the district to legal action for threatening freedom of speech.

A Merced City School District trustee announced this week he is stepping down, and an associate superintendent is on paid administrative leave, The Merced FOCUS has learned.

A number of bills authored by San Joaquin Valley state legislators that aim to ease the region’s shortage of nurses are awaiting California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approval.

A nearby property, the Virginia Smith Trust land, will be annexed next by Merced before it’s developed into a new university community.

“What is happening in Merced is a crime against students,” said one of the consultants behind the report.

Last fall, Merced County employees learned that as of Jan. 1, the premiums for their health insurance would increase by 12%, a cost passed to the county from the insurance provider.

Merced residents can get a sneak peek and offer input on early design concepts of the California High Speed Rail station coming to downtown during an open house event next month.