Local News

SOLEDAD — Soledad City Council members discussed the possible need for district-based elections last month. No action was taken at the June 16 meeting, but the presentation from City Manager Brent Slama was followed by discussion as to when such a shift would be needed. Slama...

GONZALES — A Gonzales man was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison after he was found guilty of stabbing animals inside a school property in February 2023, Monterey County prosecutors said. Jose Jesse Marquez, 31, was handed a jail term of 19 years and...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Sustainability Program will host an in-person workshop Thursday, Sept. 29, to understand the community’s challenges and opportunities about climate change, with a focus on resilience, equity and adaptation.  This two-hour public event, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Marina...

SALINAS VALLEY — A sold-out crowd of 10,498 people watched the Big Week Bull Riding Xtreme Bulls event at the Salinas Sports Complex on July 16. Presented by Salinas Valley Ford, the Big Week Bull Riding continues to be one of the most popular events...

GONZALES — Fresh on the heels of the City of Gonzales receiving the esteemed 2022 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence for the Gonzales Youth Council’s Mental Health Service Action Project, the city announced the appointment of the 2022-23 Gonzales Youth Council (GYC).   This year 19...

Film festival submissions deadline approaches KING CITY — Independent filmmakers have until Aug. 10 to submit their work for consideration in the inaugural Pinnacles Film Festival, set for Oct. 10 at King City Cinemas. Presented by Sol Treasures in partnership with the Arts Council for Monterey...

GREENFIELD — Greenfield City Council has approved acceptance of a $500,000 Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program grant, recommended by the Board of State and Community Corrections, to expand local services for at-risk youth. The funding strengthens the city’s six-year partnership with Sun Street Centers and...

SALINAS — Friends of Laguna Seca has received a $500,000 donation from the Laguna Seca Raceway Foundation (LSRF) in partnership with the Monterey County Parks Foundation (MCPF). This significant donation comes with the full endorsement from both the LSRF and MCPF, as the Friends of Laguna...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Sun Street Centers has been awarded a $50,000 Community Impact grant from the Lauralie and J. Irvine Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC). This two-year grant will support the Safe Teens Empowerment Project (STEPS), aimed at increasing peer-to-peer education...

GREENFIELD — Volunteers with South County Animal Rescue (SCAR) and Soledad author Lucy Mason Jensen attended Let’s Taco ’Bout Dogs, hosted by Scheid Vineyards in Greenfield last Saturday. The April 24 event was an opportunity to learn more about SCAR, to try food from Tacos...