The Merced FOCUS

The Merced FOCUS We are The Merced FOCUS, a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom covering Merced and the San Joaquin Valley.

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09/08/2026

This week in Focus: Promotoras, a new Atwater city manager, high-speed rail and drive-thrus in the Valley.

In her first week as Atwater’s new city manager, Janell Martin prioritized meeting with city leaders and community membe...
09/08/2026

In her first week as Atwater’s new city manager, Janell Martin prioritized meeting with city leaders and community members.

The Atwater City Council appointed Martin in late August to replace former city manager Chris Hoem, who resigned in June. Martin has served as interim city manager since his resignation. Before that, she spent 12 years in various city departments, including the city clerk.

“My goal is just to provide a really steady, collaborative leadership and make sure that the city remains responsive to the needs of our community,” Martin said in a phone interview.

Read the full story, link in the comments. 🔗

Long before Antonia Sierra-Martinez knew the term “promotora de salud,” she knew what it meant to show up when somebody ...
09/08/2026

Long before Antonia Sierra-Martinez knew the term “promotora de salud,” she knew what it meant to show up when somebody needed help.

She grew up in Santa María, a small farming community in Guanajuato, Mexico. There, her mother, with a young Sierra-Martinez in tow, went from house to house, helping neighbors with whatever they needed.

The mother-daughter duo helped older neighbors with their gardens and daily chores, and they even administered injections and provided medical advice.

“Siento que yo empecé como promotora, aunque no sabía que era una promotora – I feel I started as a promotora, even though I didn’t know what a promotora was,” Sierra-Martinez said in Spanish.

Read the full story to learn more about (link in the comments):

•The role of promotoras
•COVID-19 made the work more visible
•Recognition and pay
•The next generation of community promotoras

Check out last week's news recap. For stories like these delivered directly to your inbox, visit www.themercedfocus.org ...
09/07/2026

Check out last week's news recap. For stories like these delivered directly to your inbox, visit www.themercedfocus.org and sign up for our newsletter today.

09/05/2026

Merced's Editor, Brianna, invites you to come spill the tea at a local event on Saturday, September 12th at Coffee Bandits on W Main St. We can't wait to see you all there!

Rep. Adam Gray, D-Merced, authored the following column in response to a story published by The Merced FOCUS on Aug. 21,...
09/03/2026

Rep. Adam Gray, D-Merced, authored the following column in response to a story published by The Merced FOCUS on Aug. 21, regarding his vote on the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. Op-ed link in the comments. 🔗

09/03/2026

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman made a stop in Merced County this week, visiting Castle Air Museum and meeting with local leaders and UC Merced students.
So what brought the head of NASA to the Central Valley, and what role could this region play in the future of space exploration?
Watch our video from Isaacman’s visit to Castle Air Museum.

Merced elected officials are calling for more transparency and discussion on a risk management plan before signing off o...
09/02/2026

Merced elected officials are calling for more transparency and discussion on a risk management plan before signing off on building a high-speed rail station in a new location in the county.
Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto, City Council members Sarah Boyle and Shane Smith and Merced County Supervisor Josh Pedrozo sent a letter to the California High-Speed Rail Authority last week.
They decided to write the letter following a meeting in Sacramento with local, state and federal leaders, including Democratic Rep. Adam Gray. The letter addresses the High-Speed Rail Authority’s June pivot when it announced a plan to move the station to a southeast corner of the county instead of downtown.
Full story linked in the comments below.🔗

Cuatro candidatos participaron en las elecciones primarias de junio. Los dos que recibieron más votos avanzaron a la ele...
09/02/2026

Cuatro candidatos participaron en las elecciones primarias de junio. Los dos que recibieron más votos avanzaron a la elección de noviembre. Son Ana Boyenga, superintendente adjunta de servicios educativos del Distrito Escolar Primario de Atwater, y Richard López, superintendente del Distrito Escolar de Merced River, en Winton.

Boyenga y López responderán preguntas sobre su experiencia y por qué consideran que son la mejor opción para el puesto durante un debate en persona el 29 de septiembre en el Edificio Mondo de MCOE, en el centro de Merced.

Utilice el formulario en los comentarios para confirmar su asistencia, indicar cuántas personas vendrán con usted y si necesita cuidado de niños o interpretación al español. También puede enviarles una pregunta a los candidatos.

Por favor, envíe las preguntas que le gustaría que los candidatos respondieran durante el debate. El tiempo es limitado, por lo que no será posible hacer todas las preguntas. El personal de Valley Onward y de The Merced Focus revisará las preguntas antes del evento.

Four candidates ran for the position in the June Primary Election, and the top two are facing off in the November electi...
09/01/2026

Four candidates ran for the position in the June Primary Election, and the top two are facing off in the November election. They are Ana Boyenga, the assistant superintendent of educational services at Atwater Elementary School District, and Richard Lopez, the superintendent at Merced River School District in Winton.

Boyenga and Lopez will answer questions about their experience and what makes them the best candidate during an in-person debate on Sept. 29 at MCOE's Mondo Building in downtown Merced.

Please submit questions you'd like the candidates to address during the debate (link in the comments). Time is limited, so not all questions will be asked during the debate. Questions will be vetted by staff from Valley Onward and The Focus. 🏫🍎✏️

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