jkieta's blog

Reporter Leslie Albrecht will be in the council chambers tonight. She'll post breaking news updates to the site once a decision is reached.

Members of the Central Presbyterian Church recently voted to raze the current downtown chruch sanctuary and build a new one on the site. They say the old building is inadequate for today's church and cannot be remodeled.

Santuary Merced, a group of church members and others who oppose knocking down the nearly 100-year-old building, is asking the council to designate the santuary as a historic structure. The group's members hope the designation will make it more difficult for the church to get the necessary permits to demolish the current facility.

Three of the five seats on the Merced County Board of Supervisors are up for election in June.

Unfortunately, it looks like it's shaping up to be a pretty dull election -- and I can't figure out why.

Kathleen Crookham at first said this term was going to be her last. Then, a few months ago, she said she was running for re-election. Now she's wavering in the face of a challenge by former Merced Mayor Hub Walsh.

Here's our take on the Feb. 5 presidential primary election: If you're a Democrat, vote for Sen. Barack Obama. if you're a Republican, vote for Sen. John McCain.

Our decision wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. Obama is an inspirational force and the opposite of his chief opponent, Hillary Clinton, who is more past than present. McCain is an independent thinker and is the most impressive of the GOP field.

Many of you have heard that President Bush and Congress are working on an economic "stimulus" plan to get Americans spending.

The plan, which still is a work in progress, centers around giving qualifying taxpayers a check that it is hoped would quickly be spent -- thereby stimulating the economy.

The Kansas City Star, a sister McClatchy newspaper, has created an online calculator of sorts to determine how much money you may get back. Follow this link:

The following reader comment was left below today's online version of the story announcing Quebecor World Inc.'s bankruptcy:

To: Scott Jason, From what I have heard from the employees that I have contact with, they are not happy with your articles & this situation is causing a lot of stress in their personal lives. If their is any way that you could do some personal interviews with some of the employees even anything off the record I am sure they would appreciate it. These are real people with real jobs with real family's whose children go to school & have to hear from other class mates how Daddy might lose his job. Yes, I know that is your job to report what is going on but remember their is more than one side to this & how would you feel if the Sunstar were in the same situation? :: 01/22/08 10:52am - jesusfreaksue

I had the pleasure to attend the Merced County Chamber of Commerce's installation dinner on Friday evening.

It's no secret that the county chamber has developed into a powerful advocate for local business and industry. Its membership -- now led by newly installed president Nelson Crabb of Atwater -- has grown, and so has its stature. All of this was on display during the sold-out event at the Italo-American Lodge in downtown Merced.