Jonathan Linden

Aug 28, 2024 | m.farms.com | Elizabeth Arakelian |Jonathan Linden

By Elizabeth Arakelian and Jonathan LindenCalifornia has the most dairy cows out of any state in the U.S., with around 1.7 million. Nearly 90% of those cows live in the San Joaquin Valley. So earlier this year, when scientists discovered that avian influenza, or bird flu, had been transmitted to dairy cows in New Mexico and the Texas panhandle, many California farmers were left worried.

Aug 6, 2024 | themercedfocus.org | Jonathan Linden |Elizabeth Arakelian

Reading Time: < 1 minute Every year, on the first Tuesday of August, local police departments across California and the country celebrate National Night Out. The organization leading the charge describes the events as a community-building campaign that promotes community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The Merced Police Department is one of the local agencies hosting a National Night Out. KVPR’s Elizabeth Arakelian spoke with Merced Police Chief Steven Stanfield.

Jul 31, 2024 | themercedfocus.org | Jonathan Linden |Elizabeth Arakelian

Reading Time: < 1 minuteAccording to new data from the California Surveillance of Wastewater Systems Network, the detection of COVID-19 in San Joaquin Valley wastewater has risen substantially and is now categorized as ‘high.’ The network tracks COVID-19 levels in wastewater across the state. Much of the data is collected through a partnership between University of California researchers in Davis and Merced with public health departments and wastewater facilities.

Jul 28, 2024 | themercedfocus.org | Elizabeth Arakelian |Jonathan Linden

Reading Time: < 1 minuteIt was Memorial Day weekend — 2023 — when Bitwise Industries shocked workers with an announcement: the startup was furloughing all 900 employees. The startup’s collapse gained national headlines as it emerged that the co-founders had defrauded investors and masked a bankruptcy scheme that left employees without paychecks, 401k matches, or jobs. The company had locations in Fresno, Merced, Bakersfield and other locations.

Jul 25, 2024 | themercedfocus.org | Jonathan Linden |Elizabeth Arakelian

Reading Time: < 1 minuteCLICK AUDIO PLAYER FOR EPISODE On Sunday, President Joe Biden announced he would withdraw from his 2024 reelection bid. Almost immediately after the announcement, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination. For a local perspective on the significance of Biden’s decision, KVPR’s Elizabeth Arakelian spoke with Blake Zante. He’s the Executive Director of the nonpartisan Maddy Institute at Fresno State.