The Union Democrat

At Mindful Archery, women take aim at their exes and toxic jobs

This was Mindful Archery. The seemingly militaristic act of archery and peaceful meditation may seem diametrically opposed.
The Union Democrat

Stanislaus National Forest seeks operators for High Sierra campsites

The Stanislaus National Forest is seeking interest from local campground operators and other entrepreneurs to run and maintain more than 25 existing campgrounds and day-use areas along highways 108 ...
The Union Democrat

Mother Lode Fair attendance climbs as derby, rodeo make return

The arena grandstand at Mother Lode Fairgrounds was packed Sunday evening for the first heat of the destruction derby, presented by Fryer Racing of Sonora, during the final day off the 2026 Mother ...
The Union Democrat

For years, this chaplain helped people cope with death. He also removed brains

For 26 years, Joe Davis has been a one-man support system for people who work daily with death. He was a volunteer chaplain in the county Medical Examiner’s Office, providing help for staffers and ...
The Union Democrat

Mayo Clinic Q&A: How is robotic technology changing liver and abdominal surgery?

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have a benign lesion on my liver that needs to be removed. My surgeon said he would use robotic-assisted surgery. Can you tell me more about that? ANSWER: Yours is a common ...
The Union Democrat

Sonora dancers make their mark on the global stage

High Voltage Dance Academy in Sonora sent shockwaves through the dance world last month at the 2026 Thunderstruck International Finals in Las Vegas, which took place at the Rio Hotel and Casino from ...
The Union Democrat

Groveland property owners vote down proposed fire fee

Property owners in Groveland rejected a proposed fire assessment Wednesday that would have provided roughly $1.6 million in additional funding per year for the Groveland Community Service District ...
The Union Democrat

Wait, it's a candle? Her beeswax fruit and veggie ones look so real, you'll want to take a bite

Jessica Gonzalez hustles behind her booth at the recent Renegade Craft Fair, frantically ringing up sales, answering questions and packaging her beeswax candles. It's hot on the grounds of the Los ...
The Union Democrat

When grief needs a voice: Finding comfort in California's 'wind phones'

It was a hot and dry summer night in 2019 when the Campbell family drove from Los Angeles to their new desert vacation home in Joshua Tree. As they crested a hill on Highway 62, a drunk driver crashed ...
The Union Democrat

Heat, breezy winds to bring elevated fire danger Friday in the Mother Lode

A multi-day heat wave is expected to bring elevated fire weather conditions to the Mother Lode and the rest of the Central Sierra foothills on Friday, with daytime highs in the 90s, as well as chances ...
The Union Democrat

Christina Wilkinson is named 2026 Tuolumne County Woman of Distinction

Groveland resident Christina Wilkinson, a 10-year U.S. Air Force veteran, a tireless supporter of military women as a publisher, and a Stanislaus National Forest employee who has played a key role in ...
The Union Democrat

Are your hearing aid and fitness tracker spying on you?

Are your hearing aids helping China spy on you? How about your heart monitor? As more Florida seniors use wearables like continuous glucose monitors, remote blood pressure monitors, smartwatches and ...