Good morning, Salinas.

Monterey City Council approved $125,000 from its rental assistance program to aid Casanova fire victims, with $105,000 for extending hotel stays and $20,000 for essentials (helping about 30 residents until permanent housing is secured).

Monterey Museum of Art will host a Block Party this weekend that unites local and regional visual and musical artists for a lively community celebration (featuring The Sensory Tribe).

April brings a bright bouquet of spring concerts and recitals with Sunkiss’d Mozart’s Virtuosus at Spyglass Garden House in Pebble Beach, Bach’s St. John Passion in Carmel and Santa Cruz, Carmina Burana in Carmel’s Outdoor Forest Theatre, and Ilya Yakushev at Sunset Center, offering diverse musical experiences.

Unemployment in Monterey County rose to 10.6% in January, more than double the statewide rate.

Monterey County Works held a job fair at the Salinas Career Center Wednesday & plans more fairs in Greenfield on April 16 and in Salinas on April 29 to link residents with employers.

Gas prices in California rose for the 12th week, averaging $5.77 per gallon on Monday, up from $5.71 as traders weigh Middle East tensions and spring demand.

Analysts say prices may increase another 20-30 cents in the coming weeks.

Legislators advanced AB 1884, a bill that would require nicotine tests for student athletes in grades 7 to 12; a positive result would lead to counseling & early treatment instead of suspension.

The proposal now moves to the Assembly Committee on Education for further review.

Cycling pro Jeff Lenosky wowed students at Monterey Park Elementary on April 8 with bike tricks promoting safety and active living at a special assembly run by the Sea Otter Classic Foundation ahead of the Life Time Sea Otter Classic starting April 16.

Apps such as Too Good To Go and Flashfood help reduce food waste by linking local businesses to consumers for discounted surplus items.

Local merchants like Ad Astra and Lucky use these tools to save meals and lower emissions, benefiting the local environment.

Salinas will enforce a crackdown on illegal fireworks this Fourth of July by using drones and vehicles, and properties with violations will be issued a $1,500 citation per fuse.

Residents are urged to report fireworks on the Salinas Connect app — officials say the measure aims to change local habits.

Salinas City Council member Andrew Sandoval raised concerns about harmful PFAS chemicals during a Wednesday webinar as a state bill would require communities to be alerted before spraying, and a separate bill may ban piggyback riding on e-bikes if it passes Assembly review.

KSBW 8 will broadcast live coverage of the Big Sur International Marathon on Sunday, Apr.

26 at 7 a.m. with Action News 8 Weekend Sunrise — viewers can stream the event live via the Very Local app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or Android TV.

MPC’s Lillian Thrasher won the NorCal heptathlon — a first for her school — with a record 4,596 points while Hartnell’s Nathaniel Aceves-Aguilar placed second in the decathlon with 5,855 points.

The track meet showcased strong local college talent today.