Brandon Bowers

For seven weeks, Corinne Reilly of the Merced Sun-Star reported from Baghdad for McClatchy. (George Bridges/MCT)

Former Sun-Star reporter Corinne Reilly a Pulitzer finalist

Former Sun-Star reporter Corinne Reilly was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in feature writing for a series she wrote for The Virginian-Pilot on a military combat hospital in Afghanistan.

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Archive by category ''Brandon Bowers

OFFBEAT MERCED

Dozens spot unidentified flying object near Pacheco Pass

LOS BANOS -- Merced County is hardly Roswell, but don't tell that to the dozens of drivers who pulled over on the side of Highway 152 to snap photos of an unidentified flying object over the Pacheco Pass Monday morning.
BRANDON BOWERS

Pedrozo, Walsh face challenges for Merced County Board of Supervisors; Kelsey running unopposed

Deidre Kelsey will get another four years on the Merced County Board of Supervisors. First elected in 1996, Kelsey will start her fifth term in January after challengers failed to emerge during the candidate filing period for the June 5 election.
BRANDON BOWERS

Four inmates received minor injuries during search of Merced County Jail

Four inmates at the Merced County Main Jail received minor injuries when they were shot with less-than-lethal bean bag rounds during a search of their cells Friday night, the Merced County Sheriff's Department said. Blocks 3 and 4 at the jail were the subject of a search Friday night by SWAT and...
BRANDON BOWERS

Two men arrested on drug violations in East Merced

Two men were arrested after Merced police officers found methamphetamine and marijuana in a vehicle. Miguel Guizar, 28, of Planada, and Joshua Bassett, 31, of Merced, were booked into Merced County Jail late Friday night, police said.
BRANDON BOWERS

Driver arrested after stolen truck crashes into fence at South Merced police station

A truck stolen early Tuesday morning was recovered after the alleged thief drove it to the Merced Police Department's South Sub-Station and plowed through a chain link fence.
BRANDON BOWERS

New life for shuttered Mariposa County elementary school

School's back in session in Catheys Valley. Or it will be, rather, when Mariposa County's first charter school opens in the schoolhouse closed earlier this year because of districtwide budget cuts.
ELECTION

Merced mayor's race still undecided

With about 500 ballots left to count, Merced is still not sure who will be its next mayor. Stan Thurston held a 168-vote lead over Bill Blake after all ballots were counted Tuesday night, but there are hundreds of vote-by-mail and provisional ballots that could make all the difference.
ELECTION

Carlisle's council campaign boosted by last-minute donations from labor unions

A last-minute surge of cash from labor unions to Merced City Councilman John Carlisle is ensuring a battle to the end in his campaign for re-election.
BRANDON BOWERS

Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani reveals she's gay

Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani is gay, according to comments she made Tuesday during an interview with The Record of Stockton. Galgiani, 47, said she hopes her admission will send a positive message to youngsters, especially those struggling to come to terms with their sexual identity.
ELECTION

PAC cash pouring into Merced City Council races

As Merced voters prepare to head to the polls next week, two political groups are pouring thousands of dollars into the Merced City Council campaigns — and they're both strongly supported by the same man.