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🌱 How a high-speed CHP Merced pursuit ended near Gertrude Avenue
Merced, California Patch AM: a 4 min readGreetings Merced! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How a high-speed CHP Merced pursuit ended near Gertrude Avenue
- Who’s leading the tight race for Merced County’s next schools chief?
- How early supervisor results could reshape power across Merced County districts
Today's riddle: What did the carpenter ant say when he walked into the bar? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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- Wednesday: Mostly sunny and very warm, with a high of 94 and low of 57 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Thursday: Sunny and remaining very warm, temps: high: 94, low: 61.
- Friday: Hot with blazing sunshine, with a high of 98 and low of 59 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. CHP Merced Pursuit Ends in Crash Near Gertrude Avenue (losbanosenterprise.com) — A CHP Merced pursuit ended in a crash near Gertrude Avenue after a driver allegedly fled from officers and then tried to run away. Merced County Sheriff’s deputies helped quickly detain the suspect, and officials praised the teamwork with Turlock Police for reducing risk to nearby residents. 
2. Early results show three-way battle for Merced County Superintendent (mercedsunstar.com) — Merced County voters are shaping who will oversee local school budgets and services, with early primary results showing Richard Lopez, Paula Heupel, and Ana Boyenga locked in a tight three-way race for two November runoff spots. The eventual superintendent will supervise budgets, accountability plans, and support for all 20 school districts, including education for incarcerated students, making this decision especially important for families countywide.
3. Lara, Silveira hold early leads in Merced County Board of Supervisors races (mercedsunstar.com) — Merced County’s political landscape is shifting as newcomer Luis Lara and incumbent Scott Silveira hold strong early leads in their Board of Supervisors races, which shape budgets and key local programs. District 3, just northwest of Merced, and District 5 on the county’s west side could see continued focus on jobs, Castle’s development, public safety, and economic growth if these results hold.
4. UC Merced professors join educators calling for the SAT to return (yourcentralvalley.com) — UC Merced professors are among more than 1,200 educators urging the UC system to bring back the SAT, saying too many students arrive unprepared for college-level math. They argue reinstating the test would better identify preparation gaps, protect STEM graduation rates, and keep California’s public universities competitive nationally.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Hi everyone, I'm posting this for a real good friend.
She's 80 yrs old and is getting put out of her home. The big problem is she has 3 cats that have been with her forever. And one little dog, that's… (Nextdoor Peterson Elementary School) - Hey everyone?
Im making another post about the dog i posted yesterday. If anyone doesn't claim him today im going to have no choice but to call animal control. Hes… (Nextdoor North Merced)
- University of California Merced posted a job opening for Teaching Assistant in Physics / Natural Sciences: AY 26-27, Includes Summer 2026 (Anticipated) in Merced. Apply here.
- Zumiez Inc. posted a job opening for _1st Assistant Manager in Merced. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Merced here.
Ok Merced! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Is the bar tender here? (Thank you W. M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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