South Monterey County parks add communication boards
SALINAS VALLEY — Community leaders gathered last week at Soledad’s Orchard Lane Park to celebrate the installation of new Inclusive Communication Boards in parks throughout South Monterey County, a regional effort aimed at making public spaces more accessible for residents with communication differences.
The ribbon-cutting...
King City begins pavement rehabilitation project
KING CITY — A pavement rehabilitation project is underway in King City and is expected to continue through Sept. 25.
The 2025-122 Community Development Block Grant-funded project began July 20 and includes work from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on South Third Street, South San...
Man arrested for damaging public safety cameras in South Monterey County
MONTEREY COUNTY — A 40-year-old Pismo Beach man was arrested after local authorities said he intentionally damaged multiple public safety cameras in South Monterey County.
Marcus Bee is accused of vandalizing at least three Flock Safety automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras, according to a...
Early winegrape harvest begins in Monterey County
MONTEREY COUNTY — The 2026 winegrape harvest is underway in the Santa Lucia Highlands and across Monterey County, with some growers reporting one of the earliest starts in recent history.
Caraccioli Cellars crews picked the first grapes of the season at Escolle Vineyard in the...
Southern Monterey County Foundation accepting 2026 grant applications
KING CITY — Southern Monterey County Foundation is accepting applications for its 2026 community grants program, with submissions due by Aug. 7.
The foundation provides grants to organizations serving communities from King City south to the Monterey County line.
In November 2025, SMCF awarded $27,500 to...
MCARLM interns head to Washington this winter
KING CITY — High school and college interns with the Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum will travel to Washington, D.C., this winter through a partnership with Monterey County District 3 Supervisor Chris Lopez.
The trip expands the museum’s internship program, which has traditionally...
Imagination Library enrolls 2,500 children in Monterey County
MONTEREY COUNTY — More than 2,500 Monterey County children have enrolled in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library since the free book program launched locally on June 18, according to an update presented during this week's Monterey County News Briefing.
Rebeca Zuniga of First 5 Monterey County...
CHISPA breaks ground on affordable housing project in King City
KING CITY — Construction is underway on a new affordable housing development in King City that will bring 40 two- and three-bedroom apartments to local working families, including 30 units reserved for farmworker households.
CHISPA hosted a groundbreaking ceremony July 15 for Mills Ranch Apartments,...
Central Coast’s Rivas serves as acting governor Wednesday
SACRAMENTO — Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas is serving as acting governor of California on Wednesday while Gov. Gavin Newsom is out of the state.
Under the California Constitution, the speaker of the Assembly assumes the role of acting governor when the governor, lieutenant governor and...
FDA says Taylor Farms cyclospora test was ‘false positive’
SALINAS — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has informed Salinas-based Taylor Farms that a laboratory test indicating one of the company’s iceberg lettuce products from central Mexico was contaminated with cyclospora was a false positive, according to the company and an updated FDA...
