News
House Republicans plan to whittle away at food-assistance programs to the poor.
Lost in the shuffle of last year’s big fiscal cliff deal was the deal that didn’t happen on a new farm bill. One of the major points of contention was funding for food stamps through ...
Get Involved
Public Citizen 05.02.13
ONGOING PREVENTING GANG VIOLENCE | VARIOUS LOCATIONS – County officials present on new strategic plans for ending gang violence and invite participants to provide feedback. 6pm. Wed May 18 at Japanese School House, 11199 Geil ...
Off Season
Before Congress votes on immigration, labor groups prep ag workers for pending reforms.
Two weeks before Gonzalo Picazo went back to work on April 22 when the rapini harvesting season started, the 73-year-old took his first trip to Washington, D.C. Picazo, who’s been harvesting vegetables for D’Arrigo Brothers ...
Make It Rain
Water district offers DeepWater Desal $1 million to move forward.
Public gifts to private seawater desalination proposals seem to be a spring trend. Even as it backs the Peninsula mayors’ proposal to give $100 million to California American Water’s desal proposal, the Monterey Peninsula Water ...
Stormwater Blues
Marina officials seek new stormwater program under threat of rising costs.
The city of Marina is hoping to break away from the region’s stormwater program as regulations tighten and costs rise. All cities in Monterey County are part of the Monterey Regional Stormwater Management Program, which ...
San Clemente Dam removal keeps to schedule, despite route change.
Construction traffic for the San Clemente Dam removal is now re-routed to completely avoid Cachagua roads. Despite earlier concerns that the change would delay the long-planned project, officials say it’s still on schedule to begin ...
Bluntly Forceful
Natividad, Memorial hospitals invest big in competition for trauma center designation.
For a time last year, Natividad Medical Center was courting Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System with a proposal to merge. Now the two hospitals are locked in a multimillion-dollar battle, each seeking the county’s blessing ...
Get Involved
Public Citizen 04.25.13
ONGOING LEARN THE LAW | SEASIDE – Monterey College of Law provides $2,500 tuition grants to applicants affiliated with the Monterey County Business Council. Call for application details for 2013-14 academic year. 582-4000, www.montereylaw.edu. THURSDAY ...
Under Pressure
Regulators propose fracking rules that lawmakers, critics say aren’t tough enough.
The ancient layers of rock below Central and Southern California that might contain up to 15 billion barrels of oil have little resemblance to the Monterey Bay coastline, with its barking sea lions and somersaulting ...
Price of Justice
Elderly woman’s petty theft trial racks up enormous court fees.
The two-day trial of an elderly woman convicted of stealing $68 worth of jewelry cost the Monterey County Superior Courts more than $2,000 – just to pay for a translator. Lilia Estoesta, 75, was found ...
Problem Child
Parent-training program aimed at helping ‘worst of the worst’ launches in Salinas.
Salinas Police Officer Richard Lopez deals with a lot of troubled teens: runaways, truants, gang members. He sees a common thread: “There’s something lacking in the household.” But a program for parents whose children are ...
Former employee sues ag-supply company, alleges helicopter doused him with pesticides.
One April morning in 2011, Jesus Aguirre was driving to a job in Soledad. He pulled off Highway 101 along a lettuce field when he smelled and tasted chemicals; he put his windshield wipers on ...
Starting Gun
Enviro petition challenges Fort Ord’s biggest proposed development
Carlos Ramos kicked off public comment at the Aug. 4 Seaside City Council meeting with a jolt. “I have in my hands a declaration of war,” he said. “And it’s entitled, ‘Petition to Protect Fort ...
Get Involved
Public Citizen 04.18.13
ONGOING SAVE THE SLOUGH | ROYAL OAKS – Collect seeds and pull weeds to help restore native habitat as a volunteer steward for the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. 9:30-11:30am every Monday. 1700 Elkhorn ...
Barn Raising
The NPS Foundation also took some heat from the federal investigation; what’s next?
Retired Adm. Hank Mauz managed the Naval Postgraduate Foundation through significant growth years from 1997-2006, but it still hasn’t amounted to all that much. The foundation has just $4.4 million in assets, according to IRS ...
