As we dance through life, often an opportunity, or responsibility, to follow comes to us. How we respond is our choice. We need to ask ourselves do we have the courage, the patience, strength and, yes, faith to follow? Difficult as following may be, it is much harder to lead. It can take much more hope and determination. Civil rights icon Rosa Parks drew upon amazing powers to lead. Parks dared to make a difference. Saturday, the Caesar Chavez group will host a celebration in honor of Parks' birthday. The public is encouraged to attend the event at Miller & Lux from 2 to 5 p.m. Feel free to bring a poem, song or statement in honor of this courageous woman. | Full Story

I want to thank the Lord for blessing us with rain. I've received numerous texts and phone calls from people who read the article about standing in faith for rain. I believe that when you put your faith and trust in God's word, he'll always make a way where there seems to be no way. I'd like to refer back to Matthew 18:19-20 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on Earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them. | Full Story

I can't live without my daily newspaper. | Full Story

If you thought yoga was only for skinny hippies who sit and contemplate their navel while listening to sitar music, think again. | Full Story

With the New Year upon, us we are presented with an opportunity to start anew. At the Los Banos Police Department, we resolve to continue to battle those who would choose to harm others; we will continue to show the youth of our community that gangs are a road that goes nowhere; and we will continue to aggressively enforce our traffic laws to reduce the number of individuals injured or killed in traffic related incidents. | Full Story

In the Central Valley, January is generally not a memorable month. It's a month most valley residents simply try to get through. | Full Story

Steven Soderbergh's "Haywire" is a simple, guilt-free, sexy action thriller. Far from the intellect of his Oscar- winning "Traffic" or the mainstream appeal of the "Ocean's 11" franchise, "Haywire" is a globe-trotting B-movie with a unique attraction: a female heroine who goes mano a mano versus her all-male cast. | Full Story

I am saddened by the death of Frank Parreria and Tommy Hammond. Tommy was a dedicated Mason and a member of the Veterans Color Guard. Frank was the kind of solid, good man you wanted to as a friend. Frank was the brother of my friend Louis Parreria. | Full Story