Local News

MONTEREY COUNTY — California has already experienced an unusually early start to its fire year amidst an ongoing drought and historically low rainfall and reservoir levels. While wildfires are a natural part of California’s landscape, increased fire activity in California and across the west is...

SOLEDAD — The City of Soledad is the first South Monterey County community to adopt the 2023-2031 Housing Element, a document that will ensure Soledad adequately plans to meet the housing needs of all community members. The previous Housing Element for the City of Soledad...

RESOLUTION CONTEST MONTEREY COUNTY — Have a New Year’s resolution? Let Monterey County Free Libraries know for a chance to win a prize. Share the resolution as a comment on its Facebook or Instagram post using the hashtag #emcfl. Contest ends Jan. 31. NO NUKES LOCKWOOD —...

CALIFORNIA — Arts advocates and elected officials in California called Thursday for additional government spending to avert what one organization leader called a “pending cultural depression” brought on by the pandemic. “There is no economic recovery in our area unless a working creative engine is...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County District Attorney’s Office’s Bureau of Investigations, in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other state and local agencies, continued enforcement efforts in July against the unlicensed cannabis industry. Last week the Monterey County Cannabis Enforcement Unit...

SOLEDAD — City of Soledad has been awarded $750,000 from the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), a program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant award will go to small businesses located in Soledad as they continue to recover from...

SALINAS VALLEY — Voters in South Monterey County made their voices heard last Tuesday while deciding the fate of two local measures and a city council race. Monterey County Elections Office officials are continuing to tally ballots cast in the March 5 Presidential Primary Election,...

CALIFORNIA — Millions of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers will automatically receive the California Climate Credit on their April energy bill. Residential households with an active electric account will receive an electric credit of $58.23. Residential households with an active gas account will...

PANTHER PLEDGE SALINAS VALLEY — Hartnell College is inviting Salinas Valley high school seniors to sign up for the Panther Prep Pledge program through April 16 and complete priority registration for Fall 2021 classes. By pledging online to attend Hartnell this fall, students will receive...

FIRE RECOVERY MONTEREY COUNTY — Fire recovery town halls continue for residents impacted by the 2020 River, Carmel and Dolan fires as well as those who saw damages during the recent storm. Monterey County will hold its sixth webinar on Thursday, Feb. 11, from 5:30...