Local News

SPELLING BEE MONTEREY COUNTY — Brayden Gallardo of San Benancio Middle School was awarded top placement at the Monterey County Spelling Bee, which was held virtually this year. Rounding out the top nine placements were other county schools, but no students from South Monterey County....

Expansive vistas, serene lakes, abundant wildlife and good old fresh air — what’s not to love about national parks? So many Americans have taken refuge in parks during the pandemic that 15 of them set recreation visitation records in 2020. All of the parks...

SALINAS VALLEY — Schools throughout Monterey County began coordination with local hospitals, clinics and pharmacies to prepare for March 3, when educators and child care workers became eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Among them was Gonzales Unified School District, which partnered with Walgreens for...

Las comunidades de color, que han lidiado con el peor impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en Estados Unidos, también han recibido una proporción más pequeña de las vacunas disponibles. La tasa de vacunación para los estadounidenses negros se ubica a la mitad de...

SOLEDAD — A new four-legged officer has joined the ranks of Soledad Police Department, as announced during the March 3 Soledad City Council meeting. Bo, a black Labrador retriever who is one year and four months old, will be certified this Friday and able to...

UNITED STATES — The second year of the coronavirus pandemic is starting with rising hopes for the economic outlook — and a long way to go. Positive signs are emerging as restrictions on businesses lift and the pace of vaccine distributions ramps up. But millions...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion economic relief package on Thursday afternoon, ushering in an aggressive infusion of federal aid in a far-reaching effort to address the toll of the coronavirus pandemic. “This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of...

GREENFIELD — Greenfield police officers initiated a traffic stop for vehicle code violations and a DUI investigation on Feb. 27 at about 10:40 p.m. in the 300 block of Eighth Street. The driver, Florencio Merino Ramirez, did not have a valid driver’s license, and a...

MONTEREY COUNTY — The Central Coast, Northern California, Oregon and Washington are experiencing a salmonellosis outbreak in migrating Pine Siskins. Bird feeders are the primary source of transmission for the disease, a bacterial pathogen that is lethal for these small birds. This winter, many Pine...