Education, picnics, interpretive exhibits and a nature hike filled the morning for 80 people Saturday at Wildflower Day at Pacheco State Park. Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 7:18 AM |Full Story

LOS BANOS Round Two of this week’s Pacheco-Los Banos home-and-home series went to Pacheco, but it didn’t come easy in a 10-9 Pacheco win that went eight innings. Updated: Apr. 11, 2013 8:27 PM |Full Story

Army National Guard Pvt. Bryan Barba Hernandez has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 7:19 AM |Full Story

Kathleen Ann (Cole) Lieb passed away on April 10, 2013 in Los Banos, Calif., surrounded by family members and many close, extremely dedicated friends who took care of her every need during her three-and-a-half year battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 4 Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 7:19 AM |Full Story

Police on Friday arrested two of three suspects on suspicion of attempted murder in an alleged gang-related shooting that took place Easter weekend, according to a news release. Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 6:54 AM |Full Story

Hundreds ate, drank and made merry last week while lining the coffers of two Los Banos nonprofits. Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 7:56 AM |Full Story

The Planning Commission on Wednesday gave an auto repair business special permission to open in an industrial zone. Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 6:54 AM |Full Story

The buildings start arriving today. Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 6:54 AM |Full Story

We received a question a few weeks ago that asked how Cherokee Road off Henry Miller Avenue near Santa Nella got its name. For the first time since writing this column, we are stumped. Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 6:54 AM |Full Story

An 8 a.m. start at Pacheco State Park is planned for the Hobbs Run on April 21. There is a $15 entry fee, with no charge for children 12 and younger. Students participating will leave from Los Banos High School via bus at 7 a.m. Adults can follow the bus or meet at the park. Sign-ups will be available the day of, and state parking fees have been waived, according to Tim McNally. For more information, contact McNally at (209) 826-6033 or email at tmcnally@ losbanosusd.k12.ca.us.

Army Pvt. Bryant C. Rushing has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 7:19 AM |Full Story

LIBRARY HAPPENINGS Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 6:54 AM |Full Story

DOS PALOS -- A 27-year-old man wanted in an Oregon slaying was arrested Monday after a standoff between the fugitive and law enforcement ended peacefully. Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 6:54 AM |Full Story

POLICE CALLS Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 6:54 AM |Full Story

Free counseling for senior citizens fighting depression was featured at Wednesday's Community Resource Council meeting. Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 6:54 AM |Full Story

Delaney Rawls of Los Banos, an 11-year-old student at Volta Elementary School, was crowned Little Miss Chowchilla Western Stampede last week. She is a member of the Los Banos 4-H Club, where her projects are horse, beef and sheep. Delaney was a competitor Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 6:54 AM |Full Story

The Week of the Young Child, April 14-20, is an annual event for preschools and child development centers in Merced County. This year's theme is "Early Years Are Learning Years." Special events and activities are planned in Los Banos, Merce Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 6:54 AM |Full Story

Members of First Baptist Church will perform a free musical Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the church, 809 D St. Call Joyce Lee at (209) 827-0286. Updated: Apr. 12, 2013 6:54 AM |Full Story

Deadline for Merced County Father of the Year Essay Contest is April 19. Entry materials are available at www.merced countyfatheroftheyear.org. Essays can be about a father, stepfather, grandfather or father-like figure. Father of the Year will be honored June 13. For information or to be a sponsor, call Paul Lundberg: (209) 631-7491.

The newest church in Los Banos has been getting along without brick and mortar. Updated: Apr. 10, 2013 10:57 AM |Full Story

The Merced County Association of Governments' effort to determine how it will spend transportation funds for the next 27 years began in Los Banos on Wednesday. Updated: Apr. 6, 2013 9:04 AM |Full Story

The Los Banos Chamber of Commerce is inviting the whole community to the party. Updated: Apr. 6, 2013 9:32 AM |Full Story

A Dixieland-playing eight-piece arrangement of musicians who borrow their name from Mount Diablo are set to return later this month. Updated: Apr. 6, 2013 9:04 AM |Full Story

A standoff between a wanted Oregon man hiding in Dos Palos and Merced County Sheriff's officers ended safely Monday. Updated: Apr. 8, 2013 4:05 PM |Full Story

A run that's earned about $6,000 for scholarships, cancer research and other causes will be resurrected after a year off, according to an organizer. Updated: Apr. 6, 2013 9:43 AM |Full Story

A nearly yearlong search ended Wednesday with the hiring of a city manager. City Council unanimously voted for Steve Carrigan as city manager. Carrigan officially takes over April 22 at $156,000 a year, which is $13,000 per month. Former City Manager Steve Rath was making $159,000 a year upon retirement Oct. 31. Updated: Apr. 5, 2013 4:12 PM |Full Story

The case of accused drunk driver Justin Nappi took a new turn recently, as prosecutors say they've filed charges against a man who allegedly supplied alcohol to the defendant before he crashed. Updated: Apr. 6, 2013 9:04 AM |Full Story

The pounding of a drum and the whistle of a conch shell kicked off Saturday's march in honor of civil rights leader César Chávez. Updated: Apr. 8, 2013 10:03 AM |Full Story

Under a water transfer that could help native fish populations, farmers in Merced County will get additional water during this year's critically dry season. Updated: Apr. 6, 2013 9:04 AM |Full Story

MERCED -- A high rate of immigration and births has Merced County's population on the rise despite many residents leaving for other areas. Updated: Apr. 6, 2013 9:04 AM |Full Story