Local News

SALINAS VALLEY — California Strategic Growth Council has approved more than $8.3 million in grants to the Ag Land Trust (ALT), a nonprofit dedicated to farmland preservation along the state’s Central Coast. The funding will enable the organization to purchase conservation easements on three key...

TRICKS AND TREATS SALINAS — SPCA Monterey County is hosting its first Halloween Tricks and Treats event on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the SPCA Learning Center, located at 1002 Monterey-Salinas Highway in Salinas. Families and children are invited to enjoy...

SALINAS VALLEY — Hartnell College Foundation’s K-12 STEAM Program has received two significant accolades: the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars award and Salinas City Elementary School District recognition for involvement in the implementation of the Invention Convention competition. Hartnell is one of 10 community colleges...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to reduce alcohol-related harm in the community. “This initiative is essential to improving youth safety and giving law enforcement the tools needed to...

SOLEDAD — California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the Oct. 14 death of an incarcerated person at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) in Soledad as a homicide. At about 5:15 p.m., staff observed Orlando Ochoa assaulting Israel Mendoza and responded by utilizing chemical...

TRUNK OR TREAT GONZALES — City of Gonzales will host its annual Halloween events on Saturday, Oct. 25. The festivities include a Trunk or Treat celebration from 3 to 5 p.m. at Centennial Park, followed by a family-friendly movie screening of “Halloweentown” starting at 7:30...

GONZALES — City of Gonzales hosted the Resuse, Recycle and Cleanup Day on Saturday at Fairview Middle School. Local residents brought in items for the free event and also took advantage of free compost giveaway. Groups that participated in the Oct. 18 event included the Gonzales...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE) will host a Safety Symposium, designed to promote best practices, collaboration and preparedness for safer schools and communities, on Friday, Oct. 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at One Main, 1 Main St., in...

SALINAS VALLEY — In a gathering that underscored the enduring spirit of innovation and generosity in California’s “Salad Bowl of the World,” David and Susan Gill of King City received the prestigious E.E. “Gene” Harden Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grower-Shipper Association of Central...

SOLEDAD — Soledad Police Chief Patrick Valenzuela recently announced that Lt. Juan Santiago has successfully graduated from the 295th session of the FBI National Academy. The graduation ceremony was held at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., on Sept. 4. Santiago is only the...