Local News

County Health Department promotes car seat safety MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Health Department is reminding parents and caregivers to ensure children are properly secured in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats and seat belts during Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 21-27. Certified child passenger...

KING CITY — After three weeks of intensive training, dancers from across the Salinas Valley and surrounding communities took the stage last month to celebrate their progress and artistic development through Monterey County Dance Theatre’s annual summer program. The summer intensive brought together students from...

KING CITY — A former correctional officer at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud after prosecutors determined she fabricated workplace injuries and received more than $100,000 in workers’ compensation benefits. Lorena Hernandez Alvarado, 43, of King City, also...

SALINAS VALLEY — Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency announced Sept. 9 that its Water Efficiency Pilot Program for Rural Residents has expanded to all six subbasins under the agency’s purview, offering free home water efficiency assessments through the end of 2026. The expansion builds...

MONTEREY COUNTY — The Dollywood Foundation has designated Sept. 25 as Give Like Dolly Day, an annual initiative encouraging people to support children’s literacy and local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programs. The date, 9-2-5, is a nod to one of Dolly Parton’s international hits and...

Essential items sought for overseas troops KING CITY — Southern Monterey County Republican Women Federated will collect items on Oct. 13 to be sent to servicemen and women serving overseas through Operation: Care and Comfort, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization. Items can be dropped off from 9...

KING CITY — A stolen vehicle pursuit that began in King City and continued through South Monterey County ended with the arrest of a 54-year-old driver on Sept. 19, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. At about 5:21 p.m., sheriff’s deputies were alerted to...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Government Center at 168 W. Alisal St. in downtown Salinas will reopen for normal business operations Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 8 a.m., the County Administrative Office announced. The reopening follows several weeks of closure related to an extensive sewer line...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Blood donations can be especially critical during emergencies, when the need for transfusions can increase, according to Vitalant, which is urging eligible donors to give blood during National Preparedness Month in September. “Every day, patients need lifesaving blood transfusions, and in times...

KING CITY — The King City Aquatic Center Fence Renovation Project began Tuesday, with work focused on replacing and improving the facility’s perimeter fencing. King City Council approved the project in April and awarded the contract to Big Wakoo Fencing of Atascadero. The project is funded...