Good morning, Salinas.

Nianti Rojas-Mendoza, the Salinas Youth of the Year, is set to serve as a flag bearer at the FIFA World Cup Final in New York this weekend.

Meanwhile, the 116th annual California Rodeo Salinas is underway and will run through Sunday, drawing over 70,000 visitors and featuring international acts.

The Perseid meteor shower (active from July 17 to Aug.

24 with a peak on Aug. 12-13) is visible across California, and locals are encouraged to find dark skies away from city lights to see bright meteors between midnight and dawn.

CASA of Monterey County received a $100,000 grant from the Hearst Foundation + the nonprofit will use the funds to train volunteers to support children in foster care; it has served local families for over 30 years.

A hazardous materials incident at Salinas Valley State Prison on Friday evening triggered a Level 2 mass casualty response by CAL FIRE (with seven patients treated), and officials are seeking more details on the cause.

At El Reparo Boots, hatter Enrique Tejeda crafts personalized Western hats as locals gear up for California Rodeo Salinas.

The store, which has served Salinas for over 30 years, offers handcrafted designs ranging from $170 to $2,900 — providing style and function for rodeo fans.

A new preservation center was unveiled at Asilomar State Park in Pacific Grove to restore landmark buildings by Julia Morgan + John Carl Warneke.

The center will also train staff and manage maintenance for 55 historic structures.

Marine layer returns—cooling coastal areas while inland spots stay warm—and California Rodeo Salinas has sunny days with cloudy evenings today; tropical moisture from Elida remnants is set to bring colorful sunrises and sunsets next week.

Taylor Farms removed iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico yesterday (FDA provided the information) after reports linked it to a multi-state cyclosporiasis outbreak; no Taylor Farms salads or kits were affected as experts continue investigating the situation.

Salinas graduate Lorenzo Avalos, an incoming junior for Villanova, played 1,104 minutes in fewer games last season and scored a game-winning goal (earning an assist while playing every minute in his final 12 matches).

His steady performance boosts local hopes for a breakout soccer season.