Local News

SALINAS VALLEY — California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the homicide of inmate Joseph Mendoza, which occurred on April 8 at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) in Soledad. At about 5:39 p.m., staff observed inmates Edgar Frayre and Nicolas Young attacking...

CARNIVAL OPENS SALINAS — The California Rodeo Salinas Carnival kicks off Friday, July 14, and is open daily from 3 to 11 p.m. through Sunday, July 23, at 295 Sun Way in Salinas. The carnival, presented by Joy-Per’s Shoes and Clothing, offers family entertainment during...

SALINAS VALLEY — The 2023 Monterey County wine grape harvest has begun with Scheid Family Wines’ Isabelle’s Vineyard located in the Salinas Valley along River Road, west of Chualar, on the Monterey Wine Trail, announced Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association last week. Cool weather delayed the...

SOUTH COUNTY — An annual Halloween tradition dating back 34 years in south Monterey County could be in jeopardy this year unless donations start picking up. More than 2,000 residents attend the Harvest Night Festival each year at the South County YMCA in Soledad. The...

KING CITY — Salinas Valley Fair Board of Directors has voted unanimously to cancel the 76th Annual Salinas Valley Fair scheduled for May 14 to 17 in King City, citing California’s shelter-in-place travel restrictions and health concerns related to the spread of COVID-19. The board’s...

KING CITY — King City’s seventh annual Trunk or Treat event brought Halloween spirit to life at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds Expo Lawn, with a record-breaking turnout of 1,769 children and adults. Hosted by the King City Recreation Department, the free family event ran from...

SALINAS VALLEY — Smoke from nearby wildfires has degraded air quality throughout the Salinas Valley, reaching unhealthy levels for residents in the area. According to the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, which monitors air quality for the region, communities in the Salinas Valley — including...

CLEAN SLATE DAY MONTEREY COUNTY — The County of Monterey Public Defender’s Office has announced the annual “Clean Slate Day” on Friday, June 28, at three different locations: the Courtyard of the County Government Center in Salinas from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; the Greenfield...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Superior Court Presiding Judge Carrie Panetta has announced the retirement of Judge Marla Anderson, effective April 30, after nearly 30 years of service on the Monterey County Superior Court. In 1995, Anderson was appointed to the Monterey County bench by...

SALINAS — U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta and local leaders recently hosted an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Spence Road Auxiliary Lane Project, a key local infrastructure improvement effort that will enhance both roadway and community safety. The project was funded thanks in part to $1...