Featured

BRADLEY — Bradley Union School District (BUSD), a historic educational cornerstone established in 1886, has been recognized as one of the “10 Most Admired School Districts” by The Education Magazine. According to Superintendent and Principal Josh Van Norman, this distinction highlights the district’s “extraordinary transformation...

BIG SUR — Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that Caltrans has opened the portion of Highway 1 closed by Regent’s Slide, months earlier than the estimated reopening date of March 30. The reopening restores full travel access along the iconic Big Sur coast and revives...

Prepare yourselves for art! That’s the nearly naked — pardon me! — nearly nude truth about “Calendar Girls,” the Stage Hands’ newest production. Masters of the dinner show format, they’ve again hit it out of the park. The play begins with a meeting of the...

SALINAS VALLEY — Gonzales began the Cypress Division with a 45-44 loss at Soledad but rebounded with a 52-50 home win against the Monte Vista Christian Mustangs. Fernando De Leon led the Spartans in scoring with 15 points, Edgar Mendoza joined De Leon in double...

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...