By John Holland, The Modesto Bee, February 11, 2020 Some students will be able to help pay for college through public service, thanks to a pilot program the state launched Monday. Three universities in the Northern San Joaquin Valley are among the eight involved statewide. About 250 students will take part in the rollout of the Civic Action Fellowship during the 2020-21 academic year. It builds on community service that many students already do as part of their coursework. In Turlock, for...

By Ken Carlson, The Modesto Bee, November 14, 2019 Paramedic Dennis Flannery is one of eight medics in a Stanislaus County pilot program that is ensuring people in a mental health crisis are taken promptly to the care they need. “Our goal is to help people in a behavioral health crisis to avoid extensive emergency room stays, if the (mental health) crisis is their only emergency at that time,” Flannery said. The community paramedicine program — a first in California — was launched in fall...

By Chrisanna Mink, The Modesto Bee, January 4, 2020 Nancy Carranza, a third-year student at Modesto Junior College, is happy to give back to hungry families. She knows first-hand what it feels like to study with the distraction of a growling stomach. “Sometimes my mom skipped (meals),” Carranza said tearfully. “My mom planned out the month and made things work with food stamps.” [ Please click here to read more .]

The woman, a victim of an assault, sat in the courtrooms witness chair and started to talk. As she told a judge what happened and how it affected her giving whats called a victim impact statement the woman started...

By Deke Farrow, The Modesto Bee, June 16, 2021 To better engage families with their children’s educations, Modesto City Schools is preparing to launch a Parent Ambassadors program for the upcoming school year. Eventually, there will be an ambassador at each school, the Board of Education was told at its June 7 meeting. They will connect parents to internal and external resources, answer questions and share information on ways to get involved with student activities and athletics, school...

By Nadia Lopez, Caitlin Antonios, Bianca Fortis, and Jake Kincaid, The Fresno Bee, August 9, 2021 Junior Toscano’s mom texts him every day, pleading with him to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and giving him lists of clinics where he can get the shot. But the 29-year-old agricultural worker from Tipton isn’t ready. He knows many people, including his girlfriend, who have fallen ill to the virus. And in the past month alone, two of his friends died from complications related to the disease.