— We now have an update to a story we brought you last month where several board members of the Orosi Public Utilities District refused to vacate their seats following the November election results They called for a special election after they claimed there was a district map error But they received quite the pushback from community members in a meeting they we're heard saying they were waiting hear from Tulare County on what went wrong FOX26 News had reached out to the Orosi Public Utilities District but we did hear from an attorney representing them saying they we're waiting on a response from Tulare County When FOX26 News reached out to Tulare County a representative told us that the new members had taken their oath of office on December 6 2024 and are the legitimate members of the OPUD Board for Districts 1 She also stated that those whose term expired community members reached out to FOX26 to say nothing had changed and that the board members still had not vacated their seats A board meeting was supposed to take place on Tuesday but FOX26 News was told it was canceled [RELATED] Small town board won't vacate seats after election results Attorney General Bonta released a news statement Tuesday afternoon calling on the three board members to vacate the office immediately they failed to challenge the election results." It also includes a request for letters from all three confirming that they will no longer assert their entitlement to serve as members of the board by noon this Friday Attorney General Rob Bonta also took it to Twitter to call for them to vacate their seats FOX26 News Reporter Mayra Franco asked Bonta's representative what's next if the board members do not vacate He told her the California Department of Justice and the Secretary of State’s Office will be ready to take legal action which happened during a burglary at Martin's house The boy also acknowledged using a firearm in the crime and receiving stolen property [RELATED]School holds memorial service for beloved teacher recently shot, killed who was 15 at the time of the shooting just after midnight on November 6th entered Martin’s home intending to commit a burglary the juvenile shot him multiple times and ran away he returned to the scene with two men to retrieve the firearm and other property A neighbor witnessed the individuals leaving and called the police The juvenile was later identified through video surveillance and arrested at his home juveniles under 16 cannot be tried as adults and cannot receive life without parole or other adult sentences The juvenile can only be held in custody until age 25 21-year-old Jorge Luis Arrieta and 20-year-old Joseph Angel Garcia face charges related to crimes committed after the murder Arrieta is charged with second-degree burglary while Garcia is charged with second-degree burglary and accessory after the fact Official website of the State of California What you need to know: Governor Newsom visited the community of East Orosi to help address its failing sewer system as well as signing clean drinking water bills nearly 900,000 Californians have gotten connected to clean drinking water through state efforts SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill to help fix failing sewer systems in communities like East Orosi giving the state more authority and ability to step in The new law empowers the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to intervene in areas where sewer service is inadequate appointing administrators to provide essential services and promote access to safe and reliable wastewater systems Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) mandates a public process to determine whether an administrator is needed and empowers the state to provide technical and financial support “I deeply appreciate Governor Newsom signing Assembly Bill 805 and understanding the importance of this legislation to disadvantaged communities exposed to poorly managed sewer systems,” said Assemblymember Arambula “Everyone should have access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation and the residents of East Orosi know this better than almost anyone in California I’m grateful to them and the Community Water Center for pushing for this legislation that I hope brings much-needed improvements.” The Governor also signed SB 1188 by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) to support small water systems by providing them technical resources to prevent failure as well as AB 2454 by Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-Milpitas) that would require rental property owners to participate in state programs for domestic well testing and to determine if remediation is needed to make the water clean “I thank Governor Newsom for signing this critical public health bill to further access to safe drinking water a human right that over 700,000 Californians lack,” said Senator Laird “Senate Bill 1188 helps safeguard this fundamental right by empowering the state to proactively identify and assist small water systems struggling with operational capacity that threatens water reliability.” “Everyone should have the  human right to safe drinking water,” said Assemblymember Lee “Even when free domestic well testing programs are available It puts people at risk of exposure to dangerous contaminants in their water and AB 2454 will help prevent community members from drinking toxic water We have to ensure that free domestic well testing programs are reaching the people who need them most.”  Why communities like East Orosi need this support The need for this legislation has been underscored by alarming incidents in communities like East Orosi where residents have been plagued by chronic sewage overflows The residents of East Orosi have dealt with this crisis for long enough​ AB 805 directly responds to these crises by allowing the SWRCB to appoint administrators to step in and manage sewer services bringing in the expertise and accountability necessary to protect public health The bill also aligns with California’s broader efforts to ensure that all residents connecting people to clean drinking water  This month, California marked 10 years since the enactment of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) a landmark law that is driving reductions in the overuse of groundwater to protect drinking water supplies for millions of Californians and make communities agriculture and ecosystems more resilient to the impacts of climate change California distributed $880 million to water systems and communities during the past fiscal year for projects that will benefit around 12 million Californians 395 projects across the state have received funding to capture and recycle more water expand access to safe drinking water and improve sanitation Press Releases, Recent News News What you need to know: The Governor honored the contributions of fallen California law enforcement officers at the annual California Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony California – Honoring the contributions of fallen California peace officers,.. News What you need to know: California applied to the federal government today to update the state's benchmark plan which would expand coverage requirements for essential health benefits (EHBs) like hearing aids and wheelchairs in the individual and small group.. News What you need to know: California remains the #1 state for tourism with record-high tourism spending reaching $157.3 billion in 2024 the Trump administration’s policies and rhetoric are driving away tourists © Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Calif (FOX26) — A 21-year-old Orosi man was sentenced to 59 years to life in prison for attempted murder the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office announced Raul Alberto Vasquez was sentenced on Wednesday a group of neighbors were outside their homes in Cutler when Vasquez's dark sedan slowly drove by This is when the DA says Vasquez rolled down his window yelled “What’s up’ and then shot at the group a man was outside his car at a relative's house when the same dark sedan driven by Vasquez pulled up to him The DA says Vasquez began cussing at the man who then responded to Vasquez saying ‘he didn’t want any problems’ They say Vasquez then shot the man as he tried to hide behind a vehicle An hour after this Sheriff’s Deputies went to an orchard for a single-car accident involving the sedan Deputies found Vasquez who was identified by the victim as the shooter a jury convicted Vasquez of 4 felony counts of willful deliberate and premeditated attempted murder 4 special allegations of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle 2 special allegations of personally and intentionally discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury and 2 special allegations of personal discharge of a firearm (FOX26) — There is now talk of a special election for the Orosi Public Utilities District Board but board members refuse to vacate their seats there is pushback from community members saying it is unfair to members who have won those seats already and the finger points at a district map error Hundreds of voters were left out of voting There are still many questions and not a whole bunch of answers [RELATED] Fresno County opens candidate nominations for November general elections concerned community members approached the utility district board meeting to question why the new board that was supposed to be sworn in wasn't FOX26 was told the current members refused to vacate their seats "Why aren't the new board members sitting at the table?" "The official certification election result was completed on Dec we are legally entitled to be sworn in office as of today." "I'm sorry it's frustrating for you That's what we are waiting for right now We are waiting for a response from the county." Field Director with Community Water Center Action Fund was at that meeting and told FOX26 on Wednesday on why the board is calling for a special election "The current board members are discontenting the results and are looking to hold a special election to disenfranchise voters to be able to vote in the election There was 200 voters that did not get that race on their ballot," she said board members stated they were waiting for information on why those 200 voters did not get the race on their ballots [RELATED] Clovis Unified's $400 million bond passes, superintendent says Those in attendance questioned the mapping Whose fault was it...if the mapping was wrong?" A board member responded with the following but I don't work in the elections office not the one that was received but whatever they used." Ramirez says it doesn't seem fair to do a special election when the voters have spoken already "2 out of 3 candidates won by a landslide they would not be able to make a big difference in the election Not to say these voters aren't important," she said FOX26 News reached out to the Orosi Public Utlities District Board but so far we did hear from an attorney representing them who says this case is currently being investigated they are not able to speak on the subject matter as of right now until they have a complete picture of what happened documents show that the general legal counsel for the board reached out to Tulare County Registrar of Voters multiple times requesting information about election irregularities We also reached out to Tulare County Registrar of Voters to find out what went wrong Calif (FOX26) — UPDATE: TCSO says one of the victims was a child and the other two were adults The suspect is described as a thin Hispanic male child wearing a grey sweater and a blue medical mask A triple shooting at a sports complex in Orosi has prompted an investigation Just before 8:15 on Thursday night TCSO deputies were called to the Orosi Sports Complex in the 41000 Block of Road 18 in Orosi for a shooting When deputies arrived they learned three people were walking in the play area of the sports complex when they heard gunshots and realized they'd been hit All three that were shot were taken to a local hospital Detectives are at the location of the shooting investigating TCSO says the suspected shooter was last seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and blue medical mask Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 559-733-6218 (FOX26) — 20-year-old Raul Alberto Vasquez of Orosi was found guilty for a series of shootings that happened in the Cutler Orosi area during the summer of 2023 Detectives began investigating the shootings on June 27 when a dark sedan drove past a group of neighbors and friends gathered outside in Cutler and opened fire “What’s up ese’s?” before opening fire on the group [RELATED] Second victim in Hanford double shooting died at the hospital, suspect in custody another shooting took place in Cutler when a dark sedan approached a man standing outside his vehicle at a relative’s house who attempted to defuse the situation by stating he did not want any problems but Vasquez shot at him as he got down behind his vehicle Tulare County sheriff’s deputies responded to a single-car accident involving the sedan in an orchard Vasquez was found at the scene and was positively identified by the victim as the shooter Vasquez was convicted of four felony counts of willful He also faced four special allegations of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle two special allegations of personally and intentionally discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury and two special allegations of personal discharge of a firearm Vasquez is scheduled for sentencing on March 19th where he faces a potential sentence of 118 years-to-life in prison Calif (FOX26) — A 13-year-old was arrested for making threats to shoot up a school According to TCSO around 3:50 Wednesday afternoon deputies were called to El Monte Middle School in Orosi for a 13-year-old boy who made threats to shoot up the school [RELATED]Three arrested after threats made against Porterville schools deputies determined the boy had no weapons available to carry out the threat The Sheriff wants the community to know that these threats are not a joke and will not be treated like one Anyone with information is asked to call TCSO at 559-733-6218 OROSI, Calif (FOX26) — A man has been arrested in connection with a triple shooting that happened in Orosi on October 10, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office says. According to TCSO on Thursday detectives identified and arrested 18-year-old Mario De La Cruz for the shooting. The shooting happened at the Oroswi Sports Complex in the 41000 Block of Road 128. The three people who were shot including a woman who was eight months pregnant were all taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The sheriff’s office says that in addition De La Cruz was also arrested for a separate shooting. That happened on October 16. Anyone with further information is asked to call TCSO at (559) 733-6218. the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday admitted to murder with special allegations that the killing occurred during a burglary and involved a firearm He also admitted to receiving stolen property Related Story: Tulare Stabbing Leaves Man Hospitalized, Police Suspect Gang Involvement Authorities said the teen broke into Martin’s home shortly after midnight on Nov the juvenile returned to the scene with two adult men to recover the weapon and other items Related Story: Tulare County Explosion Burns Man, Destroys Fifth-Wheel Trailer A neighbor saw the group leaving and alerted police Surveillance footage led investigators to the juvenile There was no evidence that Martin and his killer knew each other Related Story: Private: Tulare County Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening to Kill Middle ... the boy cannot be tried as an adult or face a life sentence and will remain in juvenile custody until age 25 face separate trials for alleged crimes committed after the murder including burglary and being accessories after the fact This Is the Moment of Moral Reckoning in Gaza the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement Related Story: Tulare Gang-Related Shooting Leaves One Dead, Teen Arrested A jury found Raul Alberto Vasquez guilty of four counts of willful along with multiple firearm-related special allegations when Vasquez allegedly drove past a group of neighbors in Cutler Related Story: Tulare County Crash With Semi-Truck Leaves One Pinned. Rescue Efforts Ongoing. Vasquez shot at another man outside a relative’s home The victim was able to identify him after deputies found Vasquez’s crashed sedan in a nearby orchard Related Story: Tulare Man, 79, Sentenced to 26 Years for Molesting Girls Vasquez is set to be sentenced on March 19 and faces 118 years to life in prison This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The Orosi High School football team has already faced adversity this season De La Cruz led the state last season with 12 interceptions and was expected to replace all-state running back Andrew Camarillo Camarillo reeled off back-to-back 2,000-yard rushing seasons before graduating this past summer He finished with more than 6,500 yards rushing and scored 96 total touchdowns during a four-year starting career With Camarillo leading the charge last season Orosi captured a share of the East Sequoia League championship en route to a 10-2 record He committed in April to play for George Fox University — an NCAA Division III program in Oregon “He’s a generational player,” Orosi head coach Ben White said of Camarillo “The top player to ever come out of this high school a speedy two-way player who averaged 8.3 yards per carry during a breakout sophomore year in 2023 was projected to fill the shoes of Camarillo but White will now have to adjust his game plan Fullback Danny Ballesteros is one of the few returning players on this year’s roster to have experience as a ball carrier Ballesteros had 45 carries for 222 yards and three touchdowns His role will likely expand this season with the loss of De La Cruz Ballesteros was an All-ESL first-team pick at linebacker last season Starting quarterback Michael Lopez and tight end Benny Villareal will also be asked to shoulder a bigger load this year “We don’t have that elite guy that we can depend on,” White said “We’re going to have to depend on multiple players We’re just going to have to be like a lot of other teams — just disperse the ball to other guys We’re just going to have guys make plays.” More: 'Our kids love football': State champion Strathmore primed for big season who is entering his 31st season as a head coach overall and eighth at Orosi there is established tradition at this northern Tulare County high school the Cardinals have gone 50-27 with a pair of 10-win seasons Excluding the abbreviated COVID-19 season in the spring of 2021 Orosi is averaging nearly eight victories per season under White “We’ve had a good program ever since I’ve been here,” White said Orosi kicks off the 2024 season at home against Madera South at George Millhorn Stadium “We’re going to have our work cut out for us,” White said “We’re going to have to play great defense and kind of grind it out to get victories.” More: Woodlake quarterback Aldo Rodriguez to lead Tigers passing attack behind 'strong arm' Coaching staff: Matt Lee (defensive coordinator) Jaycee Totty (running backs/defensive line) 2023 record: 10-2 (lost 35-25 to Morro Bay in the Central Section Division V quarterfinals) 2024Action News is learning new information about a crash that injured a Tulare County deputy and another driver.TULARE COUNTY (KFSN) -- Action News is learning new information about a crash that injured a Tulare County deputy and another driver The California Highway Patrol says the deputy was driving a patrol car when it collided with another car Thursday morning at the intersection of Avenue 412 and Road 136 near Orosi The cause of the crash is still under investigation (FOX26) — A Tulare County sheriff's deputy and another person were injured in a crash on Thursday [RELATED]Women killed in home after SUV crashes during high-speed chase identified CHP says the deputy was traveling southbound on Road 136 in a Ford Explorer Patrol Vehicle a Toyota Corolla driven by Rose Cazares of Orosi was traveling westbound on Avenue 412 and the two vehicles crashed in the intersection Road 136 is controlled by a stop sign while Avenue 412 is not Both drivers sustained major injuries as a result of the crash and were transported to Kaweah Health Medical Center for treatment of their injuries Neither alcohol nor drugs were a factor in this crash (FOX26) — The Tulare County Sheriff's Office held a Medal of Valor ceremony to recognize the heroic efforts of Deputy Alfredo Flores The caller also said a child was trapped inside the home so he didn't hesitate when he arrived on the scene "He got out of his vehicle and shouted "Where's the child inside "and he didn't even slow down,” Sheriff Boudreaux said “He ran straight through the front door and into harm's way." Bodycam footage from that day shows Deputy Flores coming in and out of the home multiple times to catch his breath while looking for 12-year-old Angel who also has Down syndrome he found the boy and was able to safely rescue him Angel's mother Anna Desantiago was overcome with emotion for the lengths Flores went through to save her son When speaking to Deputy Flores he says he honestly wasn't thinking when he arrived on the scene and ran in the home to go and rescue Angel He says it's an instinct that he has since he has a family with his own children "The first thing I thought of was about that kid “I thought about my kids once I realized there was a kid inside that house I remember just getting out of my unit and running towards the fire I just remember someone telling me there's a kid in there and I didn't think nothing of it I said if there's a kid in there I'm running into the burning structure." He also hopes he can be an example to the community that officers do care about their safety "We're all human beings and behind this badge it's just another person like me and you," Deputy Flores said "I wasn't always the person that would say ok I always thought the opposite,” Desantiago said “But now that something like this happens and it puts you out there they're willing to assist you with what you need." When asked about receiving the Medal Of Valor Honor Deputy Flores says he didn't think he deserved it He says he was just doing his job and would do it again if needed to Calif (FOX26) — 16-year-old Alejandro Araujowas honored by friends and family Araujo was supposed to participate in his friend's quinceañera those in the ceremony honored his memory during a special waltz where the birthday girl carried his picture Araujo was a junior at Orosi High School when the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office says he drowned at Shaver Lake a vest slipped off his body which caused the drowning Recruitment opportunities available The boy who drowned in Shaver Lake on Sunday has been identified as Alejandro Araujo Alejandro was a student at Orosi High School who was just wrapping up his junior year dispatchers received a call of a teenage boy who jumped off a pontoon boat into Shaver Lake and did not resurface 16 year old Alejandro Araujo was wearing a U.S so it slipped off when he entered the approximately 65° water  Someone in his group jumped into the lake to try and perform a rescue who were already on their regular weekend patrol assignment which is located near the island at Camp Chawankee Members of the Sheriff’s Office Dive Unit DIVE team were called out and entered the water a dive team member recovered the young man’s body from approximately 15 feet below  It was later learned Alejandro did not know how to swim well The Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone to be safe in and around pools and all natural waterways  Make sure it is secured and fits the person properly.2) Stay out of the water if you are not an experienced swimmer.3) Parents should watch their children at all times.4) Do not mix alcohol and swimming Alcohol causes swimmers to fatigue faster than normal and can create dangerous situations.5) Understand that when it’s hot outside you will get tired faster than usual.6) Respect the water The temperature of the water remains cold and the current is often stronger than it appears which is difficult to see and may cause hazardous situations for swimmers 7) Be careful of the mud on the bottom of lakes and rivers it’s easy to sink in some spots and get your feet stuck River and lake bottoms can dramatically change from shallow to deep in a short distance Tony BottiPublic Information Officer(559) 600-8137Tony.Botti@fresnosheriff.org The Fresno County Sheriff's Office | 2200 Fresno Street, Fresno, Calif. 93721 | Records (559) 600-8400 | Non-Emergency Dispatch Line (559) 600-3111 Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. School district warns of tutoring company targeting rural families in Cutler-Orosiby Mayra Franco — “It seems like they're out here in our rural communities trying to offer products to our farm working families," saidSunsie Tumacder Director of Student Services for Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified District The Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District is now warning families of what it's calling a scam involving tutoring services the district issued a warning that a company was calling families offering tutoring services since they made it seem like they were partnering with the district to offer the services [RELATED]Central Valley school district warns parents about ongoing scam At least one parent says she's glad she saw the warning from the district in time She was scheduled to meet with someone from the company who was offering the tutoring services on Thursday The mother called the school district once finding out Both she and a district representative confronted the representative from the tutoring company They're using deceitful tactics in order to gain the trust of our families to give them money,"Tumacder said The district says the first family that was actually victimized is now out $500 “She had signed a contract for tutoring services for her child and she was under the impression that they were working in connection with the district,"Tumacder said The company under that contract was called Tumacder learned it had been reaching out to mainly Spanish-speaking families offering tutoring services as part of a partnership with the district and scheduling appointments with a representative if they were interested The representative of the tutor company goes by the name Carmen or Mary Carmen she said the company also ran a credit application on the family But when they followed up after the initial payment the family couldn't reach anyone at any of the numbers on the business card According to the director of student services they were able to get in contact with the credit application company where the credit was ran [RELATED]67 year old accused as Fresno arsonist they were the ones who caught the district's alert on time “Look!” ...and she showed me the message," said Ana Martinez Martinez says she had already planned to meet the representative but called the district with questions when she heard about the alert she didn't focus much on tutoring but more on money and promises of educational financial help "I didn't believe her because she was asking me for money and she also wanted to run my credit to be able to give me help that they were was supposedly giving. She claims the lady got angry and left because she wouldn't give up her information Tumacder arrived and confronted the woman who dodged her questions Tumacder says a Tulare County Sheriff’s Deputy went with her and mentioned a similar operation may have targeted families in Porterville “I think it's really brave of our parent who knew it was a scam but still wanted to stand up for her community I think it took a lot of courage and to protect not only her own family but to protect the community where her kids go to school She knows that we're here to help and I think it was really brave of her and I applaud her for having the courage to do what she did yesterday,"Tumacder said she wants to tell other families to not stay silent the second family had been given a different phone number and someone picked up A worker denied the accusations that this was a scam to FOX26 News and said they would launch an investigation regarding Carmen taking the $500 and never getting back to them FOX26 News asked why all the phone numbers on the business card were disconnected They couldn't answer that and instead said they'd investigate that too she said they make it clear to families the company is not working with the school and is providing an honest product which is a software tutoring platform She told me they run credit checks because parents need to take out a loan for the software if they can't afford it cash they were getting tutoring and financial help through sponsorships and the initial payment was a deposit The State's Franchise Tax Board has Tutorias Educativas Multimedia listed as suspended meaning it hasn't been in compliance with tax requirements since 2020 FOX26 News looked up the address on the business card it turns out to be a home and not a business Tumacder wants to remind families that the school is not going to ask you for money or to pay for computers Welcome, Mickeymickey@disney.comManage MyDisney AccountLog OutSuspect arrested for deadly shooting in Orosi, deputies say Wednesday (KFSN) -- A suspect has been arrested for a shooting that left a man dead in Orosi last year Ruben Trevino was found suffering from a gunshot wound near Avenue 413 and Road 124 the Tulare County Sheriff's Office says Alejandro Moreno was identified as the suspect Officials say Moreno was arrested Tuesday morning after he was found hiding with family in Orosi Detectives say they also arrested Moreno's wife Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Tulare County Sheriff's Office at (559) 733-6218 Calif (FOX26) — The Tulare County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of a man in connection to the murder of an Orosi man Deputies were called to the 12400 Block of Ave 413 in Orosi for a shooting victim around 10:15 p.m Trevino was transported to a local hospital detectives identified Alejandro Moreno as the murder suspect detectives with the TCSO CATTCH unit found Moreno hiding with family in Orosi and took him into custody without incident Both suspects were booked into the Tulare County Jail The Tulare County Sheriff's Office asks anyone with information regarding this case to call them at 559-733-6218 Arrest Made in Triple Shooting at Orosi Sports Complex  October 20, 2024 – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office officials report that just before 8:15 p.m. on October 10, 2024, TCSO Deputies were called to the Orosi Sports Complex in the 41000 Block of Road 128 in Orosi for a shooting Deputies learned four people were walking in the play area of the sports complex when they heard gunshots and realized three of them had been hit including a woman who was eight-months pregnant were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Detectives identified and arrested 18-year-old Mario De La Cruz for the shooting De La Cruz was also arrested for a separate shooting that occurred on Wednesday Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 559-733-6218 Source & photo: Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL MagazineFree Daily E-LetterVideoOur ExpertsTestimonialsFAQsTopics After 30 years as a doctor in his hometown in Texas John Michael Arthur was ready for new adventures Now he has a farm complete with a river in Costa Rica’s Orosi Valley you know that despite it being a mere 300 acres by the end of the day you feel as though you traveled around the world—you’re in "France," and then suddenly you’re in "Mexico" or "China." That’s what it’s like to live in Costa Rica. I mean be a world apart in a rainforest… and an hour after that Learn more about Costa Rica and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT - Explore the Old World in Laidback Costa Rica encompassing an area about the size of West Virginia Packed into this wee piece of geography you’ll find an abundance of climates That’s one of the primary reasons that my husband and I were drawn to this remarkable country Fourteen years ago, when we began our search for where to relocate from Dallas, Costa Rica kept rising to the top of every list we made. I was ready to retire, but couldn’t comfortably do so in the US without working many more years. Plus, we both felt the political system was broken, and the kids were grown—we were ready for some adventure. Costa Rica answered all those issues for us—and a perfect climate In today’s world, where time seems to be our most valuable commodity, it’s notable that the country is only a three-hour flight from Dallas. Plus, we have two international airports—San Jose and Liberia—that provide direct flights to destinations around the globe There’s a reason it was just named the No. 1 Retirement Destination again this year Costa Rica has been an expat hot-spot for four decades and is still going strong One thing that might hint at our feelings is that we consider ourselves to be immigrants You might think lounging at the beach all day is paradise but with quick access to metropolitan life (We are only about 30 minutes from all the amenities of the big city.) with views of not one but two massive volcanos and it has a crystal-clear stream that runs the full length of the acreage We knew we had found our "Goldilocks" spot I quickly set about renovating the 4,000-square-foot house to fit our needs and style You can easily find contractors to do the work—and the cost of labor is ridiculously low by US standards—but I love that sort of thing These days we consider ourselves to be what Thomas Jefferson called "gentlemen farmers." We live and work on our hobby farm growing fruits and vegetables raising farm animals—spending time on back-to-basics living My days start with caring for all the animals I roll out of bed and (sort of) wake up while milking the goats plus our "regular pets"—three Belgian Malinois maybe a morning coffee inside our 1,600-square-foot walk-in aviary (I built the aviary to look like a dilapidated I make artisan cheeses from all that goat milk in my free time during the process I play the piano I busy myself with one of the many projects I have on my want-to-do list or channeling the river to make waterfalls or fountains Sometimes I volunteer at local charity events or judge English spelling bees at the nearby schools—you name it Several times a week we’re visiting friends—expats or most often a mix of both— at their own pieces of paradise and drinking cups of amazing shade-grown Costa Rican java or sipping brandies and liqueurs I distill from all the tropical fruit we grow (I never drank or even liked coffee before I found the liquid treasure that is Costa Rican coffee we live on much less than we did in Dallas but because it’s such fun meeting so many cool people from around the world the "fun money" we earn makes traveling even easier.) These visitors arrive as guests and leave as friends It’s easy to manage as the maid prepares the space between guest stays; we just have to welcome them when they arrive in their wide-eyed wonder at what they lies out before them We usually don’t go more than a few weeks without a trip or we make a getaway to our beach condo on the Central Pacific—or we take a "real" vacation because our entire life is really a vacation now But because we save so much on our cost of living we usually take three or four international trips a year then some of the grandkids are coming for a two-week stay with Pops and Grandpa Michael but after that we’ll be ready for the Caribbean cruise we’ve got planned in early fall but that doesn’t make him any less special and lovable There’s governmental bureaucracy; it’s not worse than in the States I’m sure you know that’s the mantra of Costa Rica and it is wonderful to be so laid back and relaxed But you have to be prepared for the other side of that pura vida lifestyle a repairman may tell you he will come on Tuesday—he just doesn’t say which Tuesday And while living here is like a return to life of the ‘50s that also means some of the things that weren’t so great about those times exist as well—like power outages during electrical storms Costa Rica’s beauty alone makes up for the minor drawbacks Crossing from one coast to another is a jaunt of only 170 miles you’ll leave the forever-vista of the warm Pacific coast—and the monkeys and macaws that come with—and cross through verdant rainforests have climbed from sea level to over 11,000 feet And you’ll reach heights where you can see both oceans—Pacific and Atlantic—once you clear the cloud forests with their prehistoric-looking plant life and you’ll come face to face with volcanoes rising massively before you looking like those paintings Grandma Moses used to make You’ll see the fields that provide the world with Costa Rican coffee then come the lower elevations replete with sugar cane you’ll feel the Caribbean calling with its bohemian vibe and turquoise crystal waters But no matter where you journey in this small country one thing remains constant: the smile and welcoming nature of the Costa Rican people There’s so much more to living here than basic facts can tell Costa Rica has been a stable democratic republic for over 75 years And that democracy guarantees both citizens and foreigners—that means you—equality before the law Costa Rica also abolished its army in 1948 That’s why Costa Rica has a 96% literacy rate 1 source of income until tourism replaced it in 1991 It’s now the second largest exporter of bananas in the world—so you probably already see a bit of Costa Rica at your local grocery store Our wee footprint takes up only 0.03% of the world’s land mass yet we shelter almost 5% of the species of the world Costa Rica plans to be the first carbon-neutral country in the world by 2025 the country has used almost no fossil fuels to generate electricity Costa Rica was fueled by 99.6% renewable energy So all of your appliances and electronics are just plug and play Not many retirement destinations can say that Costa Rica has a socialized medical system (called the CAJA) available to every citizen and legal resident—regardless of age or pre-existing conditions You read that right; no pre-existing conditions are excluded from medical coverage While there is a monthly cost for the CAJA it is a fraction of North American insurance costs—we pay $78 a month On top of that, Costa Rica has a top-notch, state-of-the-art private medical system that rivals (and often surpasses) medical care in the States Most expats use a combination of the public and private medical systems private dental care costs run about 20% of US costs and private medical care runs about 25%–30% of US costs Predominantly Latino towns in California like East Orosi face huge obstacles getting clean drinking water An invisible line splits the rural road of Avenue 416 in California’s Tulare county at the point where the nut trees stretch east toward the towering Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance an unincorporated community of about 700 where children grow up learning to never open their eyes or mouths while they shower They know that what comes out of their faucets may harm them and parents warn they must not swallow when they brush their teeth They spend their lives sustaining themselves on bottled water while just one mile down Avenue 416 the same children they go to school with in the community of Orosi can drink from their taps freely and bathe without a second thought East Orosi is one of many predominantly Latino communities that suffer from contaminated drinking water that has exceeded federal limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency according to an extensive investigation by the Guardian Systems serving Latino communities have twice as many strikes against them for drinking water violations as the national average according to our analysis of more than 140,000 public water systems in the US and county-level demographic data This is an issue that affects 5.25m people across California according to the Environmental Working Group in largely small rural communities like East Orosi where there are fewer customers to charge for more advanced water filtration systems A neighborhood in East Orosi Photograph: Max Whittaker/The GuardianMaria Orozco doesn’t remember a time when she felt she could safely drink water from the faucet her mother began noticing residue when she boiled water frightened and desperate: her five-year-old son had developed a rash all over his body though the mothers believed it had to be something more Orozco is constantly concerned about watching over her daughters seven-year-old Sheila and nine-year-old Viviana fun-splashing experience that so many mothers get to share with their children; for her and the other parents of East Orosi “They open their mouths and I tell them to spit it out They spit it out but sometimes they try to swallow I tell them they have to stop playing around.” Orozco tries to put on a brave face for her family her daughters’ hair started falling out in the shower “It’s like a knot in your stomach,” she said of this constant worry over the water and her family’s health “It’s like a knot in your stomach and someone is putting a lot of pressure on it.” Nitrates make oxygen less available to the body It’s an issue prevalent in the Central Valley Orchards and lush orange groves surround Orosi the whiff of manure sharp at certain junctures The majority of residents of the Central Valley rely on groundwater for home use drilling below ground into aquifers rather than sourcing from reservoirs Advocates in the region believe that the fertilizer runoff and manure from all the large-scale farming operations and dairies have contaminated the groundwater More than 90% of nitrates in all drinking water comes from agriculture a senior economic analyst with the Environmental Working Group Too much exposure to nitrates can cause difficult breathing Newer studies have shown that drinking water with lower nitrate levels than the federal threshold can still increase risks of colorectal cancer in adults “The EPA’s limit is really not protecting people enough Though nitrates are the primary concern in East Orosi water advocates in the area are also anxious about other contaminants “The Central Valley produces a variety of food from grapes blueberries and we also create a variety of blended executive director of the Community Water Center “Our groundwater is a toxic blend of nitrates The East Orosi Community Service District did not return requests for comment Felipe Gonzalez poses for a portrait. Photograph: Max Whittaker/The GuardianThe California state water board has documented violations with East Orosi’s water dating back to 2003 but residents remember it beginning earlier than that Orozco believes it’s been at least 25 years remembers the water was fine when he first moved there Then the water in the ornate fountain in his front yard began growing algae and mold the water would leave a strange residue behind officials with the water district contacted them and told them they could no longer drink from their taps he and his family learned to make do on bottled water using what they now pay nearly $70 a month for only showers His adult son with developmental disabilities cannot understand that he needs to close his eyes and mouth when he bathes and has since had a series of eyes issues that they have no way of proving is connected to contaminated water exposure When his youngest granddaughter visits from Orosi she cannot understand why she cannot play in the fountain “You get tired of the challenges,” Gonzalez said “I and the others feel like losing hope that this will ever be resolved and they will change the water we can only get used to the idea and learn to live like this.” Some areas, like East Orosi, are worse affected than others, just given the geography, said Community Water Center solutions manager Ryan Jensen The closer a community is to the Sierra Nevada mountains the shallower the aquifer and the water less diluted The west well that provides drinking water to East Orosi Photograph: Max Whittaker/The GuardianEast Orosi has just two wells serving its community while Orosi has five for its community of 8,770 The cost of getting a water filtration system advanced enough to clean East Orosi’s water – a cost that would be pushed on to the consumers – would be far too much for a community so small that it takes just five minutes to drive around the entire perimeter Holding the agriculture industry accountable for its role in polluting the groundwater is a complicated and lofty endeavor is fed up with having to keep driving into Orosi or Cutler to refill their five-gallon jugs of water The very industry that is impacting their water is also keeping a roof over their heads Clean water advocates believe the solution lies in consolidation the Community Water Center helped pass legislation that gave the state water board authority to force one community water system to join with a smaller community’s water system East Orosi and Orosi were already one community with their children going to the same schools and their residents shopping in the same shops Advocates have identified a spot for a new well in Orosi to serve the new customers and all that would be left is the installation of piping down three-quarters of a mile of highway down Avenue 416 they could even connect a stretch of households that were using contaminated private wells to the new consolidated public water system The farmworking Lopez family outside their home in East Orosi Photograph: Max Whittaker/The GuardianBut it appears that Orosi doesn’t want to consolidate according to local officials and advocates working on the issue The state water resources control board first ordered a voluntary consolidation with the Orosi Public Utilities District in July 2018 the state board ordered a mandatory consolidation with the requirement that the two systems merge by the end of 2024 they’re the students that also attend Orosi high school and Orosi elementary school,” said local lawmaker Eddie Valero “They are a part of our community and I would say if you would ask someone in Orosi do you want to give people in East Orosi water from our piping system?’ Overwhelmingly But in California – and in the Central Valley especially – water is more precious than gold a necessary resource for the $50bn agriculture industry that keeps the region afloat it means the ability to pay next month’s rent The 2015 drought that choked the state still haunts the Central Valley with political billboards of “Save California’s Water” dotting its main freeways and political ads about Democrats wasting California’s water blaring on its radio stations “It’s a scarcity mentality that causes communities that are doing all right to be hesitant to help out other communities,” Jensen said. “On a larger scale, it’s not a problem unique just to Orosi. The city of the city of Tulare didn’t want to connect with Matheny Tract there’s these stories of small communities that would like to be connected to a larger community but the larger community is resistant.” An orchard in East Orosi Nitrate contamination has made the town’s drinking water unsafe Photograph: Max Whittaker/The GuardianIn an email an attorney for Orosi Public Utility District (OPUD) denied that the board of directors was against consolidation OPUD had been working to negotiate a voluntary consolidation before the state water board “hastily issued a forced consolidation order,” Diaz said He did not respond to questions about why a 2017 engineering report prepared for the East Orosi Community Services District stated that OPUD was “opposed to consolidation of EOCSD and OPUD” and had “directed its staff not to furnish information” regarding connections to Orosi well sites Diaz also made a point to state that the state water board’s mandatory consolidation order was “based on the erroneous premise that the EOCSD’s groundwater wells exceed the State’s maximum contaminant level” of 10 milligrams per liter East Orosi’s water just barely tested within standards: 9.2 and 9.5 milligrams in 2019 and the first quarter of 2020 and then exactly 10 for two more quarters in 2020 Asked if he would recommend that the children Orosi drink this water – or if he would allow his own children to drink this water – he did not respond it’s also important to note that it’s not uncommon for levels to fluctuate because of rainfall or drought especially in a region with a long history of contamination like East Orosi Local advocates are anticipating a legal battle Diaz said he thought that the state water board exceeded its legal authority in issuing the mandatory order this would only further prolong a process that has already taken too long who made the issue of getting clean water to their community her passion in life Orozco broke down in tears when she talked about her mother and the thought that someone could fight so hard and still she would talk right there and tell us our dream was to have clean water A 16-year-old boy drowned at a California lake after jumping off a boat Someone called authorities around 12:40 p.m. Sunday because the boy had jumped off a pontoon boat into Shaver Lake, about 55 miles northeast of Fresno, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said in a news release The boy, who authorities identified as Alejandro Araujo. He was a junior at Orosi High School  He placed it around his neck but did not clip it around his body so it slipped off when he jumped into the 65 degree water Someone in the group jumped into the water to look for Alejandro Boating deputies were already in the area patrolling and showed up at the scene located near the island at Camp Chawanakee They did not find the boy immediately either Members of the sheriff’s office’s dive unit were called and helped with the search They recovered the Alejandro's body at 1:50 p.m Deputies are interviewing witnesses to get more information Orosi High School also issued a statement and confirmed Alejandro's death "We encourage you to take a moment to talk with your child about their feelings and memories of their classmate and friend," the school wrote to families "Listening to their concerns and providing a safe space for them to express their emotions can be helpful in their healing process." In light of the teenager’s drowning, the sheriff’s office released a video where Deputy Erica Covarrubias went over tips for water safety Coast Guard approved life jacket that fits properly She also said to stay out of the water if you are not an experienced swimmer Parents should always supervise their children in the water and it is best to avoid drinking alcohol and swimming Alcohol wears swimmers out faster than normal She added that there may be debris in the water as well as mud at the bottom of lakes and rivers that could cause one to sink or get stuck Swimmers can use their feet to feel drop points in the water because river and lake bottoms can quickly go from shallow to deep Water temperature is also a factor swimmers should take into account The water temperature is cold and the current is often stronger than it appears Though the temperature at Shaver Lake reached the lower-90s on Sunday the water temperature was about 65 degrees when Alejandro jumped in A social media user also mentioned water temperature and how it can be dangerous for swimmers “The water is extremely cold and if he was in the sun very long his body might have gone into shock,” wrote one Facebook user Another community member agreed taught us to never jump into cold water for chance of that happening (unless we’d already submerged several times),” the person wrote Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com East Orosi is one step closer to achieving clean drinking water a basic human right that is denied to many of California's disadvantaged communities particularly in the rural San Joaquin Valley the Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to take steps to become the manager of the small agricultural community's water board That means the town of about 500 will soon have the financial resources and technical know-how to gain clean water that these communities in our own state have to deal and suffer from this inequity," said Supervisor Eddie Valero "If there is any time where this possible the time is now because of the [state's] emphasis on water." nonprofits such as Self Help Enterprises have delivered bottled water to East Orosi every two weeks through a state grant But, the supply is rarely enough to meet a family's water needs imagine youth growing up only knowing water comes from a bottle and not the kitchen tap," Valero said "This is our [the county's] responsibility as a willing and able partner working along with the state to deal with this pressing problem." has long struggled with nitrate contamination in its water Flanked on all sides by vast citrus groves fertilizer seeping into the ground after decades of cultivation has poisoned the aquifer below with nitrates The county's Resource Management Agency will work with the State Water Board to determine what is needed to bring East Orosi's water system back into compliance management of the local board will be returned to residents "The appointment of a capable local agency to administer the community's water system and its consolidation with Oorsi is an important tool to provide the needed support to East Orosi so that residents can get one step closer to finally having safe drinking water," said Ryan Jensen with the Visalia-based Community Water Center who helped put East Orosi's water issues on the map and grateful for the ongoing collaboration between the State Water Board the State Water Board identified East Orosi as a candidate for consolidation with nearby Orosi a much larger water system. By connecting the two communities East Orosi would have access to clean water and Orosi would have more rate-payers to fund operations The piping and infrastructure needed to connect the two towns would be covered by a state grant and Orosi customers would not pay more for their monthly water bills by law East Orosi customers now pay just $17 a month for water service and would likely see a rate increase to bring their bills in line with other Valley communities Orosi Public Utility District officials dragged their feet and delayed negotiations with East Orosi Community Services District until it became clear to state officials that a mandatory consolidation was necessary.  the state has only forced four consolidations State officials prefer the process to happen voluntarily but a 2015 law allows the state board to mandate a connection after other options have been exhausted Matheney Tract in Tulare was the first community to be forced to consolidate State officials believe that Tulare County serving as East Orosi's administrator will help move the consolidation process along though East Orosi would remain responsible for the operation and maintenance of its water system "A lot of the small water systems don't have the resources to apply for state funding managerial or financial capacity to run a project [and Tulare County does]," said Caitlin juarez with the State Water Board "The goal is to implement long-term solutions and in East Orosi the long-term solution is hopefully consolidation." A state-imposed deadline for the consolidation is set for December 2024 though it's unclear what will happen if the date is missed He believes it will take two years to lay the pipes and complete the infrastructure project once an agreement is reached Juarez said there's no timeline on when negotiations will be completed In the meantime, East Orosi residents such as Benedicto Cazares continue to wait for a solution that will bring their families safe drinking water —  nine years after former Gov. Jerry Brown led California to become the first state to legally recognize water as a human right.  “I am happy to see this sign of progress and that we will accomplish what we’ve been hoping for,” Cazares said in October “But we know the struggle will continue for us to make it a reality.” Tulare County authorities say they are responding to reports of a child suffering burn injuries in Orosi.FRESNO (KFSN) -- We're continuing to track the condition and whereabouts of a child injured in a Tulare County explosion Fire crews told Action News that the juvenile was airlifted to a burn center for treatment but lots of questions about what happened to the child still remain Tulare County fire teams responded to calls of an explosion near Avenue 416 and Road 128 in the Orosi area they found the child injured and immediately transported them to the hospital Fire officials have yet to release any details about the fire or what may have caused it 2023A 46-year-old man was killed following a shooting in Orosi Saturday night.TULARE COUNTY (KFSN) -- The Tulare County Sheriff's Office says a man is dead after a shooting in Orosi Saturday night Deputies responded to reports of a shooting just before 10:15 p.m Deputies found a 46-year-old man who had been shot The Tulare County Sheriff's Office says the man later died from his injuries Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Tulare County Sheriff's Office 29 May 2023 • 1m read • View Author Declare label: Know what it is, how it is used, and why it is important Fendi timber flooring's texture and finish bring designer's vision to life at luxury home Outdoor structures: An enhanced Olympic experience, a lasting legacy for residents BOSS Pedestal Planner: Take the guesswork out of pedestal estimation Sign up to our newsletter for the latest industry news, products and inspiration. The University of California, Merced, is adding more Central Valley school districts to its list of participants in the Merced Automatic Admission Program (MAAP) Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District and Chowchilla Union High School District are now part of the program that guarantees admission to students who complete specific requirements by the time they graduate Cutler-Orosi and Chowchilla join Dinuba Unified School District and Merced Union High School District to create an academic pathway to UC Merced students who complete the A-G courses required for freshman UC admission with a weighted GPA of 3.5 with no grade lower than a "C" are automatically admitted to the university UC Merced Director of Admissions Dustin Noji said the new partnerships demonstrate the university's education commitment to Valley residents "We're excited to expand the Merced Automatic Admission Program to students of Cutler-Orosi Unified and Chowchilla Union," he said "Cutler-Orosi has been a partner in college access working with our Center for Educational Partnerships on Upward Bound and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grants the district has been working with our Medical Education Program to promote health career pathways we'll be able to identify students and give them access to a University of California education in the Valley." Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District Superintendent Yolanda Valdez expressed a similar sentiment "The Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District staff has worked very hard to provide students with college readiness and experiences in partnership with UC Merced Offering automatic admission to UC Merced is a natural next step in our long-lasting partnership and the students of Cutler-Orosi are the winners," she said "We appreciate UC Merced's continued focus on serving and partnering with underserved communities like ours." Information from the first cohort of Merced Union High School District indicates 202 students applied for the program 169 students were eligible and 114 of them submitted their UC applications and were admitted to the university Students interested in the program must submit their MAAP applications by July 1 They will be notified to submit their UC applications by Nov Program participants will be prioritized in the application review process and notified of their admissions in early March More information about MAAP can be found on its website UC Merced Gifted New Bicycle Fleet Thanks to a bicycle fleet donation to the campus UC Merced students will soon have more transportation options and access to bike riding and safety.. Students at Bobcat Day: Why I Chose UC Merced UC Merced is only two decades into its mission of shaping the next generation of trailblazers But that’s more than enough time for multiple Bobcats.. UC Merced to Welcome Future Bobcats at Bobcat Day Celebration UC Merced is excited to welcome admitted students their families and friends for another unforgettable Bobcat Day 28 May 2024 • 1m read • View Author Download this case study to learn more about Orosi Apartments' commitment to sustainable luxury living in South Cronulla. (FOX26) — 700 people in Tulare County are now relying on a single faulty well with contaminated water to provide for the entire community a power surge burned out the pump in the second well That left people living in the area completely without water for in the middle of a 103-degree day [RELATED:No water, no crops: farmers destroy fields due to drought, no water deliveries] Delia Cervantes went to open her faucet Monday It doesn’t matter how much money you have – without water She and her neighbors went into panic mode Several people told FOX26 they even went to a nearby canal to grab water to flush their toilets Carmen Moreno heads the East Orosi Community Service District working to get that area’s water problems fixed because I had children at the time,” explained Moreno When Moreno became Board President of the CSD “It’s difficult because I thought it was going to be done a lot faster just like everyone else in the community,” said Moreno her worst fears came true: a house fire started up and firefighters couldn’t use the fire hydrant to get it out we’re always having something going on,” the President of CSD said The fight for water access in East Orosi is one thing; the struggle for clean water is another “It’s a dangerous substance that can bring on lots of illnesses it causes preeclampsia and miscarriages,” said Rodriguez Other officials confirmed the nitrate issue to FOX26, and we reported on it as far back as 2011 One of the people who spoke about that problem Tuesday is Bryan Osorio the Community Solutions Advocate for Community Water Center “They’re already paying for water they can’t drink and they’re paying for water that is not coming out of their faucets and hoses,” said Osorio “It’s a human right and we support them in that effort.” [RELATED:Sanger residents concerned over low to no water pressure as Valley temperatures soar] to bathe – for everything,” added Cervantes in Spanish And I hope that everyone is conscious so that every time they use water Because this is a moment where we need to come together and save as much as we can.” Repair crews pulled the pump from the west well and used it to fix the east East Orosi’s water services will be consolidating with Orosi’s Public Utility District because of a state mandate but that isn’t scheduled to happen until 2024 People living in the area hope it happens before that They also hope their sewage services will be consolidated as well UC Merced is highlighting incoming students for fall 2023 — a dynamic diverse and accomplished cohort of new Bobcats the Tulare County town of Orosi is known as a tight-knit community It's no surprise that residents see familiar faces daily and are on a first-name basis Two of those residents will continue building on that sense of community when they start classes at UC Merced this fall Orosi High School graduates Analee Muñoz Luna and Genesis Iñiguez — who have been friends since middle school — said they are excited to embark on the college experience and meet new faces together graduation day finally arrived for Muñoz Luna Although she thought feelings of nervousness and fear would set in during the ceremony she ended up reveling in excitement and happiness as she recalled everything she learned and experienced as a student and the teachers were very nice and caring," she said Muñoz Luna intends to major in writing studies at UC Merced with the goal of becoming a journalist or writer That inquisitive nature helped the Orosi grad immerse herself in all things UC Merced when she visited the university for Bobcat Day in April "I was able to ask a lot of questions on what I was interested in and I really enjoyed how they communicated with me." This was actually the second time Muñoz Luna made her way to the campus Her first taste was during a field trip to Bobcat Day in 2022 and I didn't expect to apply to UC Merced," she said "But ever since I went to Bobcat Day last year I became more interested in the university." Following January's severe weather and hearing in school from others who were affected by flooding "Once I saw the opportunity to be able to give back to the community I decided to take advantage of it," she said "We provided people with boxes full of clothes While she will be spending plenty of time on campus Muñoz Luna also plans to engage with the community of Merced "UC Merced is going to give me a good opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and be able to move on with my life and start somewhere new," she said "I'm excited about meeting new people there I really want to get involved in the community and get to know Merced." Iñiguez thinks a lot about her four years at Orosi High School Her favorite subject was — and continues to be — English Writing is her passion and becoming an author is her goal which is why she plans to major in writing studies at UC Merced — just like her friend Muñoz Luna The two friends have known each other since seventh grade Iñiguez said they agreed they would feel more comfortable going to college together so they both decided to attend the same school "I'm very excited to go to UC Merced because not only will I get this big opportunity of getting my education and going further Iñiguez is thankful for a college preparedness class that helped improve her writing skills and taught her how to ask questions That class also first introduced her to UC Merced "I actually went to Bobcat Day last year with that class," she said I fell in love with how much there was to do there and how different it was." Fast-forward a year to the most recent Bobcat Day Iñiguez visited the campus again to get a closer look at the classes dorms and everything else the university has to offer money was an important factor in Iñiguez's decision on where to attend college "Knowing UC Merced gives out scholarships and helps with any financial needs really made me feel so happy and so glad that there's a university nearby that can help me with that," she said "I just knew that UC Merced was going to be perfect for me." Hispanics/Latinos make up nearly 90% of Orosi's population who comes from a Hispanic household herself hopes Merced will shed light on her cultural background while exposing her to others so I want to learn more about my culture and see what I've been missing," she said there are so many different people with different personalities so I feel like being there I can get my education and also improve as a person by being around different people." UC Merced Student’s Photography Joins Exhibit of Young Valley Talent Zachary Silva’s camera escorts us to extraordinary places the land around the campus warped by a fisheye lens Chemistry Ph.D. Student Wins Campus Grad Slam Top Prize, Advances to UC-wide Final Adekunle “Kunle” Adewole isn’t a stranger to the spotlight having grown up singing at family functions and performing in theater.. Team Advances In Aviation Prize Contest