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SOLEDAD — Soledad Fire Department has improved its national fire protection rating, earning a Class 2 designation that places it among approximately 7% of fire departments evaluated nationwide, the City of Soledad announced. The rating, which took effect in September, improves on the department’s previous...

CALIFORNIA — Dolores Huerta, whose name and face became synonymous with agricultural workers’ nationwide struggles for fair treatment — tirelessly advocating for laborers well into her ninth decade — died Wednesday at her home in Bakersfield. She was 96. Huerta’s family announced her death via Instagram,...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County officials are challenging demands from the U.S. Department of Justice to segregate ballots and disclose confidential voter information, saying the federal agency's claims about local voter registration records are largely inaccurate. The dispute began Friday, Oct. 23, when two federal...

GREENFIELD — A former California prison lieutenant from Greenfield pleaded guilty Oct. 20 to conspiring to smuggle contraband into Salinas Valley State Prison in exchange for more than $95,000 in payments from an inmate. Matthew L. Madsen, 40, admitted to participating in the scheme from...

SOLEDAD — Soledad Unified School District broke ground Oct. 9 on a new administration building at Gabilan Elementary School, marking another phase of facility improvements funded through Measure E bond funds. The groundbreaking ceremony brought together community members and guests to celebrate the project, which...

GONZALES — City of Gonzales has received the 2026 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence from the League of California Cities for its work involving local youth in the vision and development of the Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center. Gonzales was one of 12 cities...

SALINAS VALLEY — Voters in Salinas Valley will decide Nov. 3 on measures affecting local school governance, city services and recreation programs, including proposals to continue Greenfield’s sales tax and establish funding for the Soledad-Mission Recreation District. The ballot also includes a proposed reorganization of...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County supervisors have declared a local emergency ahead of the expected El Niño winter, approving funding for emergency readiness and flood-warning equipment as county officials prepare for potential flooding, landslides and other storm-related hazards. The Board of Supervisors approved the emergency...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County voters can cast ballots, drop off completed ballots or register to vote at several local libraries this week as part of the county’s “Books & Ballots” early voting program. The Monterey County Elections Department is partnering with local libraries and...

SOLEDAD — Soledad City Council recognized October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month during its Oct. 7 meeting, presenting a proclamation to the Soledad Community Health Care District. Brian Weaver accepted the proclamation on behalf of the district and the Soledad Medical Clinic. During the presentation,...