POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: New COVID-19 testing site opens at Merced Fairgrounds, as case total continues to rise Merced Sun Star A new COVID-19 testing site was launched Monday at the Merced County Fairgrounds — an effort that’s expected to expand testing to all county residents and give a clearer picture of how […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: Business owners plead with local officials to ‘Reopen Turlock’ Turlock Journal As hundreds rallied in front of the California State Capitol on Friday in protest of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home orders, a Facebook group created by Turlock business owners who want to go back to work continued to gain […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: Merced mayor asks Newsom to open local businesses. 12 new coronavirus cases in county Merced Sun-Star Merced Mayor Mike Murphy on Thursday sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, asking the state leader to reopen businesses in rural cities amid the coronavirus pandemic.  Stanislaus will use federal money to […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: Atwater will ask Newsom to lift COVID-19 rules. Some residents plead to ‘open Merced County’ Merced Sun-Star Merced County residents and the City of Atwater ask officials to lift social and economic restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic by reopening businesses. Public Health say they must comply with state orders. […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: Coronavirus update: Turlock center reports more deaths; school in July? Modesto Bee Stanislaus County deaths increased to 10 as of Tuesday. A total of 324 people have tested positive for the virus. Another 4,798 tested negative. Seventy-six people have been hospitalized, and 224 have recovered. See also: County health […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: Modesto, area cities brace for major budget shortfalls due to coronavirus crisis Modesto Bee Now, Turlock and Stanislaus County’s other cities are bracing for the pandemic to reduce their general fund budgets, which pay for basic services, from police and fire to parks and recreation. Opinion: Why Patterson mayor […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: Stanislaus County efforts to lift coronavirus closures create confusion for some Modesto Bee The new rules eventually will reopen Woodward and Modesto reservoirs — but only to people with watercraft. Her family loves the lakes. But they don’t own a boat. See also: EDITORIAL: New Stanislaus coronavirus rules favor […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: Stanislaus County to get $96 million in coronavirus relief. Now, how to spend it? Modesto Bee Stanislaus County leaders are not sure yet how $96 million in federal coronavirus assistance can be spent. But they are certain to find a way as the county incurs expenses from its response […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: Merced looking at vouchers, loans and other options to help city rebound from coronavirus Merced Sun-Star While the coronavirus pandemic has restricted business, raised unemployment and wreaked havoc on the economy, the City of Merced is looking toward revitalizing its future with a local COVID-19 recovery program.  Golfers get […]

POLICY & POLITICS North SJ Valley: You can be fined for violating coronavirus orders in these Stanislaus County cities Modesto Bee Five Stanislaus County cities can fine residents for violating coronavirus stay-at-home orders, but none have issued citations so far, according to the law firm that advises them. When should the local economy reopen? Stanislaus […]