Empire News

Nearly one in six school children in Stanislaus County is living in poverty, U.S. Census Bureau statistics released Wednesday show.

The final results from the Nov. 3 election were released Monday, and a cliffhanger in Empire is over.

Last week's Los Angeles Times/USC poll spilled a flood of pessimism from California voters about their state: They're troubled by its direction, upset at its politicians and sure that nothing will wrest California from the abyss.

DANCE Tango Argentino Quinteto del Bailongo, a five-piece Bay Area group, plays the sensual tango music of Argentina on traditional instruments such as the bandoneon as well as piano, bass, violin and guitar.

The increased cost of importing drinking water has city officials considering a 9 percent spike to the utilities bill for residents.

Darkness is a criminal's friend. When the sun goes down in tough neighborhoods, blood pressure goes up in homes.

The waiting is over in Riverbank. Former Councilwoman Virginia Madueno is the city's mayor.

LifeHouse Theater announces the return of its musical biography "Louis Pasteur" for the 2010 LifeTales educational series for students.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors is scheduled today to vote on: - Accepting $1.45 million in federal Homeland Security grants.

The three-day West Coast experiment known as Phish Festival 8 was declared an overwhelming success by fans and Indio police Sunday as the host band called it a wrap.

Info: The Stanislaus County Library Foundation and the Friends of the Library are offering Halloween parties at local libraries.

Stephanie Pratt, one of the stars of the MTV reality show "The Hills," was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Hollywood early Sunday morning.

Novelist A.S. Byatt speaks at the Crest Theatre on Wednesday. Prize-winning novelist A.S. Byatt will be onstage at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Crest Theatre as part of the California Lectures subscription series.

The war of words in the Local Station Board elections for KPFK and other Pacifica radio stations is heating up.

When: Tuesday, 4 and 7 p.m. Info: Presentation by the Modesto Junior College Speech and Debate Team.

Detective Glen Carr probably can solve a homicide with one hand tied behind his back.

About 2,500 students from Fairview, El Vista, Franklin, Hughson, Shackelford, Alberta Martone, Empire, Bret Harte and Orville Wright elementary schools will be walking to school this month along with parents, teachers and community leaders.

Schools in this tight-knit community that sits where Santa Fe Avenue dead-ends into Yosemite Boulevard have money problems.

Features Editor John Weeks picks a Top 10 list of weekend entertainment events in the Inland Empire: GRAPE STOMP: The 70th anniversary edition of the Grape Harvest Festival, the oldest of its kind in California, continues today through Sunday at Victoria Gardens, Rancho Cucamonga.

By unanimous vote, Stanislaus County supervisors on Tuesday: * Created a new process for property assessment appeals.