Good morning, Salinas.

Attorney Marco Lucido explained that California employers are not required to offer vacation benefits but must follow strict rules if they choose to provide them.

Business owners may set accrual caps and waiting periods—yet cannot use 'use it or lose it' policies for earned vacation time.

California Rodeo Salinas kicked off with a horse parade on East Alisal Street and carnival rides, marking the start of Rodeo Week that has brought families together.

The event, which began on Wednesday and continued into Thursday, also featured mutton busting (a crowd favorite) for young cowboys and cowgirls.

Hartnell College began building a new 9,700 sqft Career Technical Education facility at the Soledad Education Center to train students in diesel technology for local agriculture & transportation, with construction finishing in October and classes set to start in January 2028.

Twenty-seven students completed the Summer Health Institute (a 5-week program) at Salinas Valley Health on July 16, exploring roles across departments (including talks from nurses, lab technicians, and doctors) to learn that healthcare involves many types of work beyond direct patient care.

California agriculture officials warned that select Costco grapevine and desert willow plants sold between April 21–May 21 and June 24–July 3 may carry the glassy-winged sharpshooter (an invasive pest) that can spread Pierce’s disease, so customers should contact local agricultural offices for inspection.

The California Public Utilities Commission approved $74 million in funding to expand high-speed broadband in underserved communities; up to $33 million will support fiber projects reaching 1,293 locations in Monterey, Santa Cruz and other Central Coast counties (CPUC).

Health officials advise Salinas residents to monitor air quality & take precautions during wildfire smoke events by checking EPA and local sensor readings online.

They recommend staying indoors when possible, using N95 masks if outside, and improving home ventilation with air purifiers and closed windows to safeguard their health.

Salinas-based Taylor Farms is linked to a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened around 4,000 people, with affected lettuce used at Taco Bell; the fast-food chain has removed potentially contaminated lettuce and health experts urge careful washing or cooking of produce to lower risks.

April data shows Monterey County home sales jumped 11.2% as the median price rose to $944,500 from $849,000 in March; single-family homes increased 12.5% to $984,000 while overall sales dropped 18.5% from last April (with 80 homes selling for over $1 million).