Brianna Vaccari

We, the staff of @CVJCguild, are forming a union!

A strong local news ecosystem needs strong workers. We’re asking our leadership to formally recognize us so we can shape the future of local media together.

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‘Erin Brockovich’ chemical could be in your water. Should districts get legal cover? Water bills are climbing as utilities clean up a chemical made infamous in “Erin Brockovich.” Lawmakers could give water providers legal protections

Lawmakers are poised to give California water districts legal cover from lawsuits as they work to meet strict new standards for toxic chromium-6 in drinking water.

Ryan Sabalow and @briannavaccari.bsky.social report: calmatters.org/environment/... @calmatters.org

Does Merced County need an independent commission to draw Board of Supervisors districts? Merced County could join other central California counties who will have independent redistricting commissions after the 2023 census. But not everyone is on board with the idea.

Merced could join other central California counties who will have independent redistricting commissions determine Board of Supervisors district maps after the 2030 census.
But not everyone is on board with the idea, including the Board of Supervisors itself. Story by @briannavaccari.bsky.social

Veteran journalist Brianna Vaccari named editor of The Merced Focus Vaccari is moving into the role after working for two years as senior accountability reporter for the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, the nonprofit that publishes The Merced Focus.

Some personal news from me:

After more than a decade working as a reporter, I’m excited to share that I’m stepping into an editing role.

I’m looking forward to serving readers in a different way. You can count on our team @themercedfocus.org to deliver top-notch, community-based news!

June 4: The Pop Up Night Club Where Disabled Adults Can Feel Like Themselves Podcast Episode · Central Valley Daily · 06/04/2025 · 13m

My first audio feature for KVPR

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

This pop-up nightclub is a place of ‘pure happiness’ for Merced’s disabled adults Merced's Club 67 gives disabled adults a fun-filled nightclub experience with friends they otherwise may not have.

Had fun with this one:

themercedfocus.org/this-pop-up-...

Merced County employees get big raises one year after near strike. ‘They wanted to make it right' More than 1,700 Merced County employees will receive a 10% pay raise and alleviated healthcare costs after nearly striking last summer.

“When you have people who feel respected and valued and appreciated in their positions, they do a better job,” said one union member and Merced County employee. Story by @briannavaccari.bsky.social
themercedfocus.org/merced-count...

"The company went through the city’s competitive bidding process for the Yosemite Avenue project and was the lowest of six bids, coming in at around $5.8 million. The highest bid the city received was over $14 million."
By @briannavaccari.bsky.social

A Merced City Council member approved a multi-million dollar contract for his in-law’s company. Why isn’t it a conflict of interest? Merced City Councilmember Mike Harris in December cast a yes vote on a multimillion-dollar construction contract awarded to a company owned by his brother-in-law.

themercedfocus.org/a-merced-cit...

Commentary: Trump is slashing library funds. California is a target Amid the chaos of government cuts, the defunding of grants to libraries has gone largely unnoticed. But California wasn't spared.

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Beyoncé Cowboy Carter Tour Review; The Star Remixes American History, and Her Own The superstar’s new stage show turns reclamation, personal and musical, into joyful extravaganza.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/29/a...

Fresno abruptly loses federal grant credited for big drop in city’s gun violence Exclusive: The $2 million violence prevention grant is one of several federal grants that has been paused, canceled or terminated in Fresno.

This is so sad!

Fresno abruptly loses federal grant credited for big drop in city’s gun violence via @melissa-myrna.bsky.social

www.fresnobee.com/news/local/a...

Valerie the dachshund rescued after 17 months in Australian wilderness The eight-pound miniature dachshund had transformed from an “absolute princess” into a rugged survivor.

For 528 days, Valerie the miniature dachshund survived in the Australian wilderness by eating roadkill and eluding the grasp of humans who wanted to rescue her. All the while, her owners worried about whether they would see her again.

Loan to Trump-Friendly Argentina Went Against IMF Board Concerns The IMF’s latest jumbo loan to Argentina — a serial defaulter now led by a close Donald Trump ally – raised red flags for many of the Fund’s top decision-makers. It got a green light anyway.

Incredible insight into this deal by my friend and former colleague Manuela Tobias, now reporting for @bloomberg.com from her home in Buenos Aires

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Hi! It took me a while, but I’m finally here.

Refresher: I’m a journalist working in California’s San Joaquin Valley, previously with @fresnobee.com. Now I’m at a nonprofit newsroom @themercedfocus.bsky.social.

I’m sort of trying to recreate my beloved Twitter feed (RIP). Am I doing this right?