Local News

MONTEREY COUNTY — South Monterey County students and families are building reading skills and enjoying literacy through a countywide initiative launched this past December by the Read to Me Project. The program, called Literacy for All, is designed to expand early literacy access, encourage family...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Alliance on Aging has announced the return of its free tax preparation services for older adults and people with disabilities, beginning Feb. 2. The program is available to adults age 60 and older, as well as individuals with disabilities, and is designed...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County health officials and community partners have released the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, a comprehensive report identifying the county’s most pressing health challenges and priorities. The assessment, compiled by the Monterey County Health Needs Collaborative, analyzes population health data to...

SOLEDAD — City of Soledad and the Monterey County Health Department hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 23 for the city’s first 24/7 naloxone and fentanyl test strip kiosk, after the event was rescheduled from Dec. 8. The kiosk, located next to the Soledad Fire...

SALINAS VALLEY — Hundreds of South Monterey County third graders took part in the 2026 South County Farm Day on Jan. 22 at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City, getting a hands-on introduction to agriculture, public safety and local resources. The annual event, hosted...

MONTEREY COUNTY — See Monterey has announced the launch of Off the Canvas, a new arts and culture tourism initiative highlighting murals, sculptures and other arts and creative spaces throughout Monterey County, including the Salinas Valley — from vibrant public art installations to open galleries and more. The program invites...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Alliance on Aging is beginning the new year with a renewed commitment to serving older adults throughout Monterey County, expanding access to essential services while strengthening programs that protect dignity, independence and connection. As part of its January initiatives, the nonprofit is...

SOLEDAD — Soledad Youth Council is leading a comprehensive Street Safety Initiative for the 2025-26 year focused on identifying and addressing pedestrian and traffic safety concerns throughout the city. Since launching the initiative in October 2025, Youth Council members have spent the past several months...

SOLEDAD — A Monterey County jury has convicted Paul Chavez Ramirez, 61, an inmate serving a life sentence at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, of possessing a weapon. In a bifurcated trial, the jury also found that Ramirez had previously been convicted of four...

GREENFIELD — A structure fire early Friday morning was contained to a garage thanks to a rapid, multi-agency response, according to the Greenfield Police Department. At about midnight on Jan. 23, Greenfield police and fire personnel responded to a reported structure fire in the 200...