Local News

MONTEREY COUNTY — Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) is offering more than $1.5 million in student scholarships for 2026, with applications due next week. More than 500 local students will be able to pursue their dreams of higher education, thanks to the generosity of...

King City seeks input on Salinas River trail expansion KING CITY — The City of King and Monterey County are seeking public input on plans to expand pedestrian trails at San Lorenzo Park and along the Salinas River. Officials say feedback will help guide early planning...

GREENFIELD — A Monterey County jury has convicted a 34-year-old Greenfield man of five counts of child molestation, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced. Filberto Santiago Martinez was found guilty March 2 of three counts of sexual intercourse with a child 10 or younger,...

SOLEDAD — A Monterey County jury has found Noel Ledesma, 44, formerly of Soledad and Yuma, Ariz., guilty of first-degree murder in the 2010 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Yvette Martinez, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced. Martinez and Ledesma had dated in early 2010...

SALINAS VALLEY — Creativity, sustainability and community spirit will take center stage March 19 at the 2026 South County Trashion Show, Alliance on Aging’s largest annual fundraiser benefiting seniors across Monterey County. The luncheon and runway event will be held inside the Orradre Building at...

County to unveil Covid-19 memorial, honor losses SALINAS — Monterey County will host a ceremony Tuesday, March 10, to unveil a countywide Covid-19 Memorial Garden at the Government Center Plaza, 1413 Schilling Place, in Salinas. The three-year project honors the 940 county residents who died during...

SOLEDAD — The Avanza Network wrapped up its 10th annual conference in the Salinas Valley last month after visiting 25 middle and high schools across Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, including several in South Monterey County. The all-volunteer nonprofit, founded in 2011 by Mexican-American alumni...

SALINAS VALLEY — A Salinas man has pleaded no contest to multiple charges stemming from a May 2025 incident in which he stabbed his ex-girlfriend, threatened a relative, led police on a high-speed chase and used his 7-year-old daughter as a human shield. Oscar Villareal...

GONZALES — Monterey County Free Libraries (MCFL) hosted a grand opening of the new Gonzales Branch Library on Saturday morning, with more than 200 people in attendance. Located at the Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center at 630 Fifth St., the library will be a...

Monterey County Works plans job fairs, recruitments SALINAS — Monterey County Works is inviting jobseekers to attend a series of March job fairs and recruitment events at its Salinas Career Center, 344 Salinas St. The events, all on Wednesdays, are free and open to the public....