Salinas Valley News Briefs | April 17, 2026
Write-in nomination period opens for June election
MONTEREY COUNTY ā The nomination period to qualify as a write-in candidate for offices going to election in the Primary Election runs April 6 through May 19.
To qualify, candidates must meet the requirements of office and file write-in...
King City High senior crowned Miss Salinas Valley Fair 2026
KING CITY ā Salinas Valley Fair hosted its annual Miss Salinas Valley Fair Competition on March 26-27 at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City, where Morgan Hancock was crowned the 2026 Miss Salinas Valley Fair.
Hancock, 17, is a senior at King City High...
Hartnell hosts art shows this week in Salinas, King City
SALINAS VALLEY ā Student artists from Hartnell College and the Salinas Valley Arts and Innovation Hub will be featured this spring in two events in Salinas and King City showcasing visual art, performance and creative workforce development opportunities.
The Hartnell College Art Gallery is presenting...
New signs encourage biking, walking throughout Monterey County
MONTEREY COUNTY ā Residents and visitors now have an easier way to explore local destinations thanks to new bicycle and pedestrian wayfinding signs installed by the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC).
To promote the system, TAMC launched a social media campaign March 9 that...
UPDATE: Woman found dead in Ventana Wilderness identified
(UPDATED 4/13/26 at 5:25 p.m.)
MONTEREY COUNTY ā Monterey County Sheriffās Office has identified a woman whose body was found near Sykes Hot Springs in the Ventana Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest.
Authorities identified the body as 37-year-old Joanna Ruth Shields of Carlsbad.
According to...
PG&E to conduct helicopter safety inspections over Central Coast
CENTRAL COAST ā Over the next few weeks, PG&E will be flying helicopters overhead to conduct what its calling āroutine safety inspectionsā along the companyās gas transmission pipelines in the Central Coast and South Bay regions.
That will include, portions of Monterey, Santa Cruz and...
Community Foundation for Monterey County announces LEAD Institute 2026 participants
MONTEREY COUNTY ā Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) welcomed 23 emerging nonprofit managers to join the LEAD (Leadership, Education and Development) Instituteās 2026 cohort.
LEAD is a year-long professional development institute offered by the CFMCās Center for Nonprofit Excellence to foster strong, effective leadership...
Salinas Valley News Briefs | April 10, 2026
Sea Otter Classic returns with new trail run
MONTEREY COUNTY ā The internationally renowned Life Time Sea Otter Classic will return to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey County on April 16-19, bringing world-class cycling competition, outdoor recreation and expanded family-focused events to the region,...
King City KFC employee, aspiring pilot surprised with $20K
KING CITY ā A routine afternoon shift turned into a life-changing moment for one local student when Rodrigo Velasquez, a King City KFC employee and aspiring pilot, was surprised with a $20,000 scholarship during a celebration March 26 at the restaurant on Broadway Circle.
Velasquez,...
Casa de Esperanza opens in King City, providing 45 supportive housing units
KING CITY ā Community leaders and regional partners gathered March 19 to celebrate the grand opening of Casa de Esperanza, a newly renovated permanent supportive housing community at 1130 Broadway St. in King City.
The project transforms a former Days Inn motel into 45 studio...






















