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KING CITY — King City Council has selected Jose Arreola as the city’s next city manager following an extensive recruitment process. Arreola, who was chosen from 31 applicants and eight finalists, will succeed Steve Adams upon his retirement after 10 years in the role. The...

CENTRAL COAST — Together with Santa Barbara-based facilitator Hannah Jacobson Blumenfeld, San Benito County Arts Council, Arts Council Santa Cruz County and Arts Council for Monterey County are key regional partners for the California Arts Council’s Creative Economies in Action: 2025 Statewide Engagement Tour. This...

KING CITY — King City High girls’ wrestling team had an outstanding performance at the Trojan Wrath in Salinas that was hosted by Alisal High School on Dec. 27. The Mustang girls finished in fifth place out of 20 teams, with three finalists and one...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Superior Court will be transitioning to a new case management system, eCourt, effective Jan. 20. To ensure a smooth conversion process, residents are asked to observe the following deadlines and filing requirements: Effective Jan. 5, electronic filings will no longer be...

From major community milestones and public safety moments to student achievements, arts, agriculture and housing progress, 2025 was a year of significant change and resilience in South Monterey County. The following stories were selected by Rustler staff as the top news of the year, highlighting...

SALINAS VALLEY — Soledad High girls’ basketball team defeated King City 52-44 in the second day of the Ken Kline Basketball Tournament to finish with a 2-0 record. Soledad earned the right to play the host Lady Mustangs after beginning the tournament with a 67-12...

CALIFORNIA — Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced key laws taking effect in 2026 that reflect California’s continued focus on public safety, affordability, transparency and accountability. The new laws, which started Jan. 1, lower prescription drug costs, increase oversight of large corporations, strengthen consumer and worker protections...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Health Department is the recipient of a $168,862 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support its Cannabis Education Program in the Public Health Bureau. The grant will fund community educational outreach and coordinated strategies focused on...

KING CITY — Christmas came early this month at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City, with the arrival of a very special guest — Santa Claus. As part of the annual Operation Santa event organized by Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez and local water...

JOLON — Built to weather any storm, the Tin Barn at Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL) held its post for decades before completing its final mission in November. The structure was disassembled on Nov. 17 as part of the installation’s ongoing effort to modernize and support...