(FOX26) — A driver received a $2,700 speeding ticket after an officer clocked a passing car at 167 miles per hour CHP Los Banos says the driver was caught speeding in a 70-mph zone The driver received a speeding ticket with a fine of $2,700 The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for a limited number of deer hunting access permits at the Los Banos and North Grasslands wildlife areas for the last week of the A Zone deer season CDFW requested the California Fish and Game Commission make deer a huntable species on the Los Banos Wildlife Area and the China Island and Salt Slough units of the North Grasslands Wildlife Area This new designation allows CDFW for the first time to offer limited access to hunt these areas under provisions of the A Zone general deer season An access permit issued by CDFW is required and only 11 permits (five on Los Banos three on Salt Slough and three on China Island) will be awarded Hunters can find the application online (PDF) or request an application by calling the CDFW Los Banos office at (209) 826-0463 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Applications may be submitted via e-mail to Kimberly.Reynoso@wildlife.ca.gov or mailed to CDFW’s Los Banos office at 18110 W Possession of a valid 2024 A Zone deer tag at the time of application is not necessary Successful applicants will be allowed access to the area they were drawn for and must have a valid hunting license A Zone deer tag and follow all hunting regulations Hunters must also adhere to wildlife area specific regulations regarding parking in designated parking lots no stopping along roadways and no access other than walking or using non-motorized bicycles Each hunter is allowed to bring one non-hunting guest The areas will be closed to all other visitors throughout the week Hunters may only use a shotgun with nontoxic slugs as their authorized method of take All deer harvested must be validated by wildlife area staff CDFW staff is collecting biological samples to test for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) CDFW is testing for and monitoring the disease to protect California’s elk and deer populations as well as hunting opportunities The application process for these deer hunts takes place outside of CDFW’s Automated License Data System (ALDS) Only official applications will be accepted and must be received before 4 p.m Reservations will be selected by a computerized drawing at 11 a.m Successful applicants will be notified by mail within five working days of the drawing Each applicant may only apply for one area and must include all required information on the application If an individual’s name and GOID number appear in the drawing on any other applications that individual will be disqualified from all drawings Junior hunting license holders 12 and older may apply if accompanied by an adult 18 or older For participants new to hunting or looking to try a different style of hunting, visit CDFW’s Hunter Education and R3 (Recruit. Retain. Reactivate.) web pages for resources and helpful information 2025Police are investigating a shooting that led to a 26-year-old man being airlifted to the hospital in Los Banos Wednesday night.MERCED COUNTY (KFSN) -- Police are investigating a shooting that has left one man injured in Los Banos Wednesday night near South Fallbrook and Creekside Drives The victim was airlifted to a Modesto area hospital and is expected to survive Authorities say a vehicle was seen leaving the area Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Los Banos Police Department 2025The Los Banos Fire Department is hosting a special event for children with sensory disorders.LOS BANOS (KFSN) -- The Los Banos Fire Department is hosting a special event for children with sensory disorders The idea is to create a safe and quieter environment so children can interact with first responders That way in the event of an actual emergency they're not fearful of those trying to help Los Banos Fire Captain Brian Thompson joined Action News anchors Stephen Hicks and Vanessa Vasconcelos to preview the event The annual awareness event happens Saturday The fire state is located on 7th and C Street Office of the Mayor Department of Community Services (DCS) Deputy Director Aedward Los Banos joins host Brandi Higa on the One O‘ahu Podcast to provide updates on Waikīkī Vista and an outreach effort ahead of HECO’s Public Safety Power Shutoff Aedward Los Banos began in his role as the Deputy Director for the Department of Community Services on January 3 he served as Associate Vice President for Administration for the University of Hawai‘i Los Banos was the Executive Director for the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority (HCDA) where he was responsible for the oversight and implementation of HCDA board policy and legislative mandates Los Banos also brings to the City immense knowledge in asset resource management Serving as the Chief Operating Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from April 2012-September 2013 Los Banos managed a $350M investment portfolio 27,000 acres of conservation and agricultural land he discusses why he chose to move to local government and the unique spelling of his first name Governor Green and Mayor Blangiardi held a joint press conference fronting Waikīkī Vista to provide an update on the transformative housing and homeless initiatives underway at the City-owned building on Kapi‘olani Boulevard and affordable housing units all in the same building “I’m happy to report on that shelter aspect and the transitional aspect we do have our first two families that first entered the program back in April since then graduated and many of them have since moved on to permanent housing,” explained Los Banos is on track to be fully occupied by the end of summer 2024 is an important part of Hawaiian Electric Company’s (HECO) overall strategy to help prevent wildfires when certain conditions exist windy weather in areas where dry vegetation surrounds HECO’s equipment These conditions may lead to damaged powerlines or debris flying onto powerlines which increases the risk of a fire starting DCS’s Elderly Affairs Division will be conducting outreach in areas vulnerable to these types of conditions “They’ll be visiting a number of senior homes with the Board of Water Supply just to kind of make a concerted effort to let them know what resources are available,” added Los Banos “If you have an electronic medical device How do they plan ahead for something that may happen?” To learn more about the programs and services offered by the Department of Community Services This story was originally published by The Merced FOCUS A group of Los Banos residents are speaking out against a proposed solar farm and battery energy storage facility and urging Merced County elected representatives to press pause before approving it The Merced County Planning Commission on Wednesday (Feb 26) unanimously approved the environmental review and a conditional use permit for the construction operation and maintenance of the 622-acre so-called Zeta solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project on a piece of private land about nine miles south of Los Banos Half a dozen residents from Los Banos drove 45 minutes to the planning commission meeting in Merced they criticized the county’s public notification process and raised concerns about unknown health and potential safety risks the project could present “To move forward on this project with so many citizens pushing back is reckless and without regard,” Julie Creighton “You may only see a few faces here today in opposition to the Zeta BESS but these faces represent many who are unable to attend and are in staunch opposition to the BESS Most of the Los Banos residents who spoke referenced the major fire that broke out last month in Monterey County at the world’s largest lithium ion battery storage facility Cleanup of the fire began just this week and researchers quickly sounded the alarm over environmental impacts and unknown health implications from the fire Representatives from the company developing the Zeta project in Merced County, Longroad Energy attended the planning commission meeting and told The Merced FOCUS the proposed project is “fundamentally different” from told the planning commission the Zeta project will be safer than the Moss Landing site because it will use newer technology follow recent safety regulations and use fire-tested construction and spacing for the BESS “We do not push limits,” she told the commission and audience “I hope this helps address some of the concerns.” According to its website, Longroad already operates another larger facility to the north of the proposed one, known as the Vega solar facility The planning commission approved the project without much discussion he takes issue with projects like these if they’re proposed on fertile farmland The farmland is currently fallow and undeveloped, according to county reports. Additionally, the property is subject to an agreement with the San Luis Water District that restricts irrigation and there’s currently no existing access to water sheep have occasionally grazed on the land to control weeds The Los Banos residents in attendance also criticized the county’s efforts to notify the nearest residents to the project local city officials and the broader public Creighton said the residents who live a half mile from the project site weren’t notified County staff noted it followed state regulations for notification Cyphers and Spycher noted the Zeta project is consistent with California’s green energy goals The project will next go before the Merced County Board of Supervisors in the coming months for a final vote The Los Banos milk powder plant is being closed by California Dairies just a year shy of its 100th anniversary of operations the leading dairy processing cooperative in the state announced Monday that it would immediately cease operations at its Los Banos manufacturing facility The closure will affect about 38 employees at the plant that makes milk powder said in a statement that closing the plant was a difficult step “This decision was driven by the evolving dynamics of the marketplace and shifting milk supplies We value the contributions of our dedicated employees in Los Banos and recognize the impact this has on them and the community We are committed to supporting them through this transition,” Anderson said “The Los Banos plant and its employees will hold a special place in our company’s history.” CDI officials said they will be working with the impacted employees to assist them with the transition The plant in Los Banos has been in operation since 1925 first operating as part of the San Joaquin Valley Dairymen cooperative prior to merging with Danish Creamery and California Milk Producers in 1999 to become CDI CDI produces about 40% of California’s milk The cooperative is co-owned by more than 300 dairy producers who ship nearly 17 billion pounds of milk annually fluid milk products and milk powders and produces popular butter brands Challenge and Danish Creamery Their products are available in all 50 states and in more than 50 countries A local microgreens vendor has ambitions to eventually grow his A Central Valley dried fruit processor has been getting its Following a year of voluntary registration A Fresno County farmer will spend some time in prison BLOG: Bill advances that would undermine PAGA reform Reform of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) was one BLOG: Should breaking news alter your investment strategy? please create a FREE account OR login here SKIP THE POP-UPS — Subscribe Today & Save $20 Stay informed with The Business Journal—your go-to source for local business news and insights Already a member? to login Unlock unlimited access to TheBusinessJournal.com and start receiving exclusive business news and insights today Los Banos City Leaders Join Peninsula Clean Energy At Community Center Solar Ribbon Cutting Solar carports will save Los Banos more than $1 million in energy costs 2025 – Los Banos Mayor Michael Amabile and other city leaders joined Peninsula Clean Energy at a March 28 ribbon cutting for new solar carports at the Los Banos Community Center The carports are expected to save Los Banos more than $1 million over their lifetime They were installed as part of Peninsula Clean Energy’s GovPV program which required no upfront costs to the city and used union labor for construction “We are celebrating not just this new solar installation but also a really productive partnership between the City of Los Banos and Peninsula Clean Energy that has so far saved more than $5 million on energy bills for Los Banos customers,” said Mayor Amabile “That’s money that has stayed in the pockets of our residents.” “PCE is committed to continuing our positive and productive relationship with city leadership residents and businesses in Los Banos,” Peninsula Clean Energy CEO Shawn Marshall said The new system not only provides parking lot shading The solar power generated will offset 95 percent of energy usage for the Community Center Others gathered at the ribbon cutting included Interim City Manager Gary Brizzee Community and Economic Development Director Stacy Souza Elms Director of Parks and Recreation Joe Heim and representatives for U.S Adam Gray and California Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria The California Community Choice Association’s mission is to create a legislative and regulatory environment that supports the development and long-term sustainability of locally-run Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) electricity providers in California We serve our members and strengthen our collective voice through education technical guidance and regulatory and legislative advocacy Sign up for our mailing list to stay current on CCA in California CBS47 and KSEE24 | News from YourCentralValley.com Calif (FOX26) — Four people were arrested for an armed robbery that happened in Los Banos last month the department got a report of an armed robbery at a local jewelry store Three men entered the business with face coverings and were armed with handguns They were reported to have taken around $100,000 worth of jewelry The three individuals left in an SUV that was being driven by a fourth individual Detectives determined that the vehicle was registered to 53-year-old Jules Lamont Hollis who is on federal probation Detectives learned that the individuals committed a burglary in Madera Detectives were able to get a video where the individuals were seen without face coverings and were accompanied by another man The man was identified as Lamont by his federal probation officer [RELATED}Fresno gas station clerk robbed at gunpoint An arrest warrant was issued for Hollis, he was arrested on September 15, 2024, by Elk Grove Police. EPD found a firearm in the SUV that was used after Pearson’s Jewelers robbery. Detectives then responded to Elk Grove, interviewed Hollis and executed a search warrant on the vehicle and two mobile devices. Detectives collected further evidence that tied Hollis to their investigation. On September 23, 2024, detectives got an arrest warrant for 41-year-old Omar Jones of Fresno after determining he was one of the masked individuals in the investigation. After multiple search warrants, they also identified 22-year-old Moses Salas of Fresno and 34-year-old Tyrone Royal Bush who is on Federal probation. and which sparked his anger in closed session Editor’s note: This story was originally published by The Westside Express during the portion reserved for councilmember comments Lewis spoke about employee dissatisfaction – pointing out that public works employees are on the verge of taking a strike vote and noting the departure of dozens of city staff members Lewis listed five department heads and several other high-ranking administrative employees who have resigned since the arrival of city manager Josh Pinheiro Then Lewis made her dramatic announcement: “I received a phone call Monday night informing me that Vanessa Portillo is going to be leaving the city and I want to know just how many more of our employees are we going to be losing,” said Lewis and I know that it’s been painful for our staff thank you for your time with the city.” Portillo started as finance director in May who had been the city’s contract finance director for over a year stayed on with the city even as Portillo stepped into the role Lewis’ announcement caught much of the city by surprise “because I wanted the public to know we were losing another top management employee in just a matter of months And I wanted to know why her situation wasn’t made public by the city manager.” Portillo did not respond to Lewis’ announcement and has not responded to outreach from the Express Sources say Portillo gave her notice to Pinheiro on Sept The city’s human resources department was not notified The city is embroiled in an unprecedented election in which all five members of the council are on the ballot – three because their terms are up and two because they are being recalled Foremost among the city’s issues is the controversial rehiring of Pinheiro and the subsequent departure of more than 80 of the city’s staff – a turnover rate nearing 50% since Pinheiro has managed the city Related Story: Merced’s District Attorney Wants to Establish a Family Justice Center for ... The announcement of yet another high-level departure would be considered embarrassing to Pinheiro and his supporters on the council – Mayor Paul Llanez and councilmembers Doug Begonia Jr. Lambert accused Lewis of having “a vendetta” against Pinheiro when she questioned why the city manager – rather than the parks director as in other cities — would have authority to approve camping permits within the city That rebuke was mild compared to what happened after the council adjourned to meet behind closed doors Lewis recounted that Pinheiro ordered city clerk Lucy Mallonee to leave the room then muted the live link to the city’s labor negotiator over Zoom Then “Josh began to berate me in front of all the council members; he accused me of being out of control and said I had no right to speak about employees during a meeting and saying I was harming the city,” said Lewis “He further stated that I was a wholly self-righteous person and that I would pay for my behavior.” Such a statement could be construed as a threat Lewis said that none of the council members or city attorney Bill Vaughn intervened or made any effort to stop Pinheiro’s tirade “They just let Josh continue.” Related Story: Merced County CHP Traffic Stop Turns Into $1.2 Million Fentanyl Bust results from Pinheiro’s “lockdown super contract” that requires a unanimous “He has no fear of speaking to me in that manner I can only imagine that this is what happens to our employees in the city on a regular basis.” I’d be seeking an attorney right now But things are different for council members he would be terminated for being so disrespectful That is definitely cause for dismissal.” Lewis is being challenged by Travis Loebig six-term mayor Mike Amabile and former councilmember Refugio Llamas are challenging Llanez for mayor Voters have also required Jones and Begonia to appear on the ballot 1,706 residents of District 2 signed petitions to recall Begonia There were 1,404 residents who signed petitions to recall Jones in District 3 more voters signed recall petitions than voted to originally elect the councilmembers voters in their districts are choosing to remove Jones or Begonia from the council Replacements will be chosen either through a special election or by temporary appointment City manager Pinheiro originally was hired in October 2021 despite having no experience in either government or as an administrator He was fired some eight months later after complaints from some female employees and other irregularities Begonia and Llanez were voted onto the council in November 2022 then gave him a controversial payment of $1.8 million to settle his accusation that he had been unfairly fired When the city’s liability insurer refused to pay the settlement the same four voted to pay Pinheiro from the city’s general fund they voted to change the city’s rules to require a 5-0 vote to fire Pinheiro and then only with “cause” – meaning he was no longer an at-will employee the city has discontinued conducting public budget workshops increased use of the consent agenda to approve significant spending and increased the authority of the city manager while making mid-level managers at-will employees The council majority says the changes have resulted in a better maintained city the approval of pickleball courts and more efficient meetings Trump Administration Freezes Future Grants to Harvard Heavy police presence on North Maroa and E Fedora Avenue announced the immediate closure of its Los Banos manufacturing facility "Closing the Los Banos plant was a difficult decision one that was not made lightly," said Brad Anderson Anderson emphasized the company's appreciation for the contributions of its Los Banos employees and acknowledged the impact of the closure on both the workers and the community The facility has been operational since 1925 but will now be entering a shutdown period Originally part of San Joaquin Valley Dairymen it merged with Danish Creamery and California Milk Producers in 1999 to form California Dairies CDI maintains a significant presence in California The California Garlic Festival gets underway on Friday in Los Banos at the Merced County Spring Fairgrounds.LOS BANOS The California Garlic Festival gets underway on Friday in Los Banos at the Merced County Spring Fairgrounds Tens of thousands of people are expected to stop by to try various garlic-inspired dishes Among some of the items you can try include garlic fries garlic pesto pasta and even garlic ice cream A single vehicle collision involving a pickup truck and a tree on River Road resulted in the death of a Los Banos man The 59-year-old Los Banos man was driving a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 eastbound on River Road at an undetermined speed the driver allowed the vehicle to veer to the left according to the California Highway Patrol The driver was pinned inside the pickup truck and had to be extricated by emergency personnel He was rushed by ambulance to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto with major injuries He was pronounced deceased later at 9:15 p.m It is unknown if drugs or alcohol were factors in the collision Police say at 12:30 Saturday morning, a 22-year-old man driving a Nissan blew a stop sign and hit a 17-year-old boy on F street near Second in Los Banos. The teen suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The driver initially left the scene but was caught by police. Authorities say the man was arrested for hit and run and suspicion of driving under the influence. #comp-lvqlknop_r_comp-lwwdvtpl__item1 {aspect-ratio: 1;}The Plant BaseThe Plant Base is the go to B2B news platform for the plant-based food and beverage industry RefreshmentRefreshment is your ultimate resource for staying informed and up-to-date on the water cooler The Cell BaseThe Cell Base provides insights for professionals to stay informed exchange ideas and explore new cell-based opportunities SubscribeAccess more as a FoodBev subscriberSign up to FoodBev and unlock more insights from the international food and beverage industry. Subscribers have access to webinars, newsletters, publications and more... California Dairies shuts down Los Banos facility California Dairies has announced the immediate closure of its Los Banos The decision comes in response to changing market conditions and shifts in milk supplies initially operated as part of San Joaquin Valley Dairymen before merging with Danish Creamery and California Milk Producers in 1999 to form California Dairies the company maintains a significant presence "not only in California but throughout the US and internationally," highlighted the company California Dairies' president and chief executive officer said: “Closing the Los Banos plant was a difficult decision This decision was driven by the evolving dynamics of the marketplace and shifting milk supplies." "We value the contributions of our dedicated employees in Los Banos and recognise the impact this has on them and the community We are committed to supporting them through this transition The Los Banos plant and its employees will hold a special place in our company’s history.” Get in touchWould you like to be interviewed by FoodBev Media or share a recent innovation with us? Click here to contact us Calif (FOX26) — The California Garlic Festival is back for 2024 August 31 and September 1 2024 at the Merced County Spring Fairgrounds located at 403 F Street in Los Banos Organizers of the festival say it will be open each day from 12 PM to 10 PM Organizers say that the buildings and “Garlic Alley” will close at 7 PM Monster Truck shows and Outdoor vendors will remain open until 10 PM there will also be several other garlic-based items shrimp and garlic hot sauce for fruit cups are some of the featured foods According to organizers prices are as follows You can visit their website for more details.