Pfc. Lukas Hopper, a 20-year-old Army paratrooper from Merced, died in a Humvee crash in Baghdad last week, the military said Monday.
A Golden Valley High School graduate, Hopper had been in Iraq for nearly a year. He was less than two weeks away from the end of his deployment when his vehicle flipped Friday in a noncombat-related crash southeast of Karadah, Iraq.
A sacred parade.
That was the scene in the near-ghost town of Hornitos on Monday night as about 250 candle-carrying people made the steep, narrow walk up to St. Catherine's Catholic Church to celebrate All Souls Day.A California nurses union says it won't strike after swine flu protections were written into new contracts with the state's largest hospital system.
The California Nurses Association had threatened a one-day strike at 32 Catholic Healthcare West hospitals, including Mercy Medical Center Merced, if state and federal swine flu protection recommendations weren't included in their contracts.As voters trek to the polls today, they'll have to plow through a thicket of conflicting information, rumors and accusations.
Merced is one step closer to having a public campground for its homeless community, following a divided vote Monday night by the City Council.
Two teens are in custody on suspicion of injuring a 15-year-old girl during a drive-by shooting Sunday night.
ATWATER -- Three slots -- but only one race for seats on the Atwater Elementary School District board.
After reforms last spring, residents will elect school board members based on their neighborhoods.LIVINGSTON -- Four people are running for three positions in the Livingston Union School District board elections.
Hornitos will once again celebrate All Souls' Day Monday in the Mariposa County town.
 | OFF THE 99 PODCAST Reporters Scott Jason and Jonah Owen Lamb talk about issues affecting Merced in their weekly podcast. |
