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🌱 How a UC Merced student’s death sparked a high-profile AI lawsuit

Merced, California Patch AM: a 5 min read

Greetings Merced! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a UC Merced student’s death sparked a high-profile AI lawsuit
  • How Merced’s revived STAR Team plans to tackle violent crime
  • Merced diesel just hit a record high—see who’s paying the price

Also on today's calendar: Captain Mama Visits Open Cockpit Day and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: what do you call a rabbit with fleas? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Sunny and not as hot, with a high of 86 and low of 54 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Thursday: Sunny and very warm, temps: high: 92, low: 57.
  • Friday: Sunny and very warm, with a high of 91 and low of 58 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. UC Merced Student's Death at Center of Wrongful-Death Lawsuit Against OpenAI (losbanosenterprise.com) — A UC Merced student’s death is now the focus of a new wrongful-death lawsuit claiming an AI chatbot gave unsafe drug-related information before his fatal overdose, though the allegations remain unproven. The case is drawing attention in Merced County as students increasingly use AI tools, and officials continue warning about the serious risks of substances like kratom and Xanax.
   

2. Special task force returns to Merced County Sheriff's Office after being disbanded four years ago (themercedfocus.org) — Merced County has revived its specialized STAR Team to tackle violent and property crimes, working closely with Merced Police Department’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit and county probation. After staffing shortages forced the unit’s disbandment, the returning team of experienced deputies is already making arrests and filling enforcement gaps, with more positions expected to be added as resources grow.
   

3. California's ABC30 Action News speaks to a farmer and ag transporter paying $20k more a month on diesel: "I worry every day we're going to go broke" (mediamatters.org) — Merced just hit a record diesel price of $7.67 a gallon, squeezing local drivers and especially farmers and truckers across the Central Valley. A Fresno County grower and ag transporter says his monthly diesel bill has jumped about $20,000 since the war with Iran, forcing new surcharges and likely higher prices for everyday goods.
   

4. Five UC Merced Faculty Members Earn Early Career Research Awards (losbanosenterprise.com) — Five UC Merced professors have each received $50,000 Early Career Faculty Research Excellence Awards, bringing fresh research funding and recognition to Merced’s campus. Their projects span groundwater dust impacts, Central Valley wildlife, vaccine messaging for older adults, Andean skeletal repatriation, and the history of slavery and freedom in Sierra Leone, highlighting the university’s growing research profile.
   

5. Five Guys closures hit 7 states. Is yours on the list? (rollingout.com) — Five Guys is closing its Merced location this year, cutting 13 local jobs as part of a broader wave of 2026 shutdowns tied to rising costs. The burger chain says financial pressures, including higher wages, are forcing it to pull back even while it continues expanding elsewhere.
   

📸 Around Merced

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Merced

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★ Featured events ★

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Other local events

📣 Merced Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Wednesday May 13
  • Dept / Collab Groups
    Yosemite High (Continuation) Merced, CA 95340
    8:10 am
  • 1st Round of Playoffs for Softball
    Le Grand High School Le Grand, CA 95333
    4:00 pm
  • The Carole King & James Taylor Story →
    Merced Theatre, 301 W Main St, Merced
    7:30 pm
    • Friday May 15
  • Viking Store Room#5
    Le Grand Union Elementary School District Le Grand, CA 95333
    8:00 am
  • 2nd Round of Playoffs Softball
    Le Grand High School Le Grand, CA 95333
    4:00 pm
  • GVCR Spring Fling
    Golden Valley High Merced, CA 95344
    5:00 pm
    • Saturday May 16
  • IMPACT End of Year Trip Carmel
    Le Grand High School Le Grand, CA 95333
    8:00 am
    • Sunday May 17
  • Checkered Handknit Throw L2 →
    NK Designs & Gifts, 2836 G St, Merced
    1:00 pm
    • Tuesday May 19
  • ClayClub: Melting Popsicle →
    EarthWorks ClaySpace, 355 W Main St, Merced
    10:30 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • I started smoking cigarettes when I was 20 yrs old.
    I'm 58 now. I had my doc prescribe me chantix, I started that a couple days ago. And, it's working. I'm officially going to be a non smoker. I'm… (Nextdoor McNamara)
  • I work over at Chenoweth Elementary in the after school program and we’re trying donate 4 boxes of books to anyone who would like them!
    From what I hear they are really good books and there are both soft covers and hard covers. If you are interested feel free to send me a message! (Nextdoor West and Central N Merced)
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for Accounting Technician - Extra-Help Accounting Technician in Merced. Apply here.
  • University of California Merced posted a job opening for Assistant Professor of Teaching in Aerospace Engineering 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: Bugs Bunny ! (Thank you bruce A. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in Merced

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Merced

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.