Local News

GREENFIELD — A medium-sized bus from the Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) fleet sat in the northern parking lot of Patriot Park last Friday, not to pick up passengers, but to act as a Wi-Fi hotspot for anyone who came in need of free internet. FULL STORY:...

California needs more housing. More condominiums, more town houses near mass transit, more suburban apartment buildings. There is no other solution to the state’s desperate homelessness problem and a deepening housing affordability crisis, according to a broad collection of economists and housing experts. Yet for...

CENTRAL COAST — Utility scams have continued at an alarming rate during 2024, with nearly 15,000 Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) customers reporting more than $334,000 in losses to scammers. The average scam victim lost over $600, and more than 500 customers have reported falling...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Administrative Officer Charles McKee will be retiring at the end of the year after serving 31 years in local government, county officials announced last week. “I am proud of what we have accomplished as a team on behalf of our...

SOLEDAD — City of Soledad has announced the retirement of Chief Damon Wasson, marking the end of a distinguished career in law enforcement spanning 36 years, including 17 years as the chief of police for the Soledad Police Department. During his tenure, Wasson has made...

SOLEDAD — Brian Sanchez, a first-generation college student at the University of Maine — 3,000 miles from his home in Soledad — became a top performer in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) and in the Department of Mechanical Engineering through grit and a...

SOLEDAD — Community members are being asked by the Soledad-Mission Recreation District to help in getting the city’s pool restored. The current amount being sought for repairs to the pool and filter system is $85,000, after prior fundraising and state grants put funding in place...

CALIFORNIA — California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is encouraging all Californians to get vaccinated this season to protect themselves and their loved ones from respiratory viruses. Respiratory infections like flu, Covid-19 and RSV are common during the fall and winter seasons, and getting immunized...

SALINAS VALLEY — Southern Monterey County Republican Women Federated recognized the scholastic achievements of two area high school graduates during its Aug. 3 meeting at King Kora restaurant in King City. Ani Bacilio-Olivera, from Greenfield High School, and Brenna Owens, from King City High School,...

Hundreds of families got into the holiday spirit last weekend at several community events in Gonzales and Soledad. On Saturday, La Gloria Elementary School in Gonzales hosted its annual Holiday Bazaar fundraiser with handmade crafts by local artisans, special performances and more, and the City...