Local News

SOLEDAD — Thanks to the incarcerated population, the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) at Soledad raised over $17,000 for Special Olympics during their Flame of Hope event. “I thought that was amazing,” said the Special Olympics athlete Hall-of-Famer known as J-Lo. “It’s like we won the...

GONZALES — Last Friday morning the City of Gonzales, American Legion Post 81 and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 81 hosted the second annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Central Park in Gonzales. This year’s event once again featured the unveiling of new signs paying tribute...

CENTRAL COAST — The Tri-County Arts Councils, representing Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, have taken their next step in addressing the urgent shortage of arts educators in the Central Coast region. Launched earlier this year, the Pathways for Arts Educators – A Regional...

SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey Mushrooms, a mushroom grower based in Morgan Hill, has announced the release of its Certified Organic Spent Mushroom Compost (COSMC) to row crop and leafy green farmers throughout the Salinas Valley. A finely balanced mixture of straw, peat moss, cottonseed meal,...

VETERAN PASS EXPANDS MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Parks has announced the expansion of its acceptance of the California Distinguished Veteran Pass. The pass, which grants free vehicle day use, family camping and boat use at more than 100 California State Parks, will now also...

SALINAS VALLEY — Hartnell College Veterans Resource Center will host its annual Veterans Appreciation Week from Nov. 10-14 at the college’s Main Campus in Salinas. The weeklong celebration honors the service, sacrifice and lasting contributions of U.S. military veterans, including Hartnell’s own veteran students, faculty,...

GREENFIELD — Wonder Wood Ranch, a Monterey County nonprofit known for its life-changing equine therapy, has received a $150,000 state grant to expand its programs to South Monterey County. The funding comes through the Youth Community Access Grant Program, which supports outdoor learning and recreation...

UPDATE — Nov. 7, 2025: Full November SNAP/CalFresh benefits have begun posting to the EBT cards of Monterey County residents, according to the County of Monterey Department of Social Services on Friday. “The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is telling us that California has initiated...

SALINAS VALLEY — A spook-tacular array of Halloween events brought excitement last week to the Salinas Valley.  City of Gonzales presented its annual Trunk or Treat celebration on Oct. 25 at Centennial Park, featuring costume contests, pumpkins, games and more. In Greenfield, local schools hosted Trunk or...

MONTEREY COUNTY — In celebration of Constitution Day 2025, the judges of Monterey County Superior Court launched a special outreach initiative to educate young students about their civic rights and responsibilities. From Sept. 15 through 25, judges, commissioners and temporary judges made personal visits to...