Good morning, Salinas.

California's statewide minimum wage will rise from $16.90 to $17.40 per hour in January (making it the nation's highest rate) as part of an automatic adjustment to keep pace with inflation, according to Gov. Newsom's office.

This change follows a decade of steady increases since 2016.

A group of 25 undergraduate students began the Panetta Institute for Public Policy's 28th Congressional Internship Program Saturday in Marina.

The 13‑week program includes two weeks of classes now and a fall internship in Washington where they will earn 20 academic units.

Experts reported that rising shark sightings off our local beaches do not mean increased danger for beachgoers because juvenile white sharks use nearby shores as nursery grounds & smartphone sharing boosts sightings.

Lifeguards advise staying aware to enjoy the water safely.

County of Monterey has launched an interactive online map to help residents avoid traffic during Car Week on the Monterey Peninsula.

The tool, which shows real-time traffic updates, road closures and daily event guides from Aug. 7-16, aims to ease travel amid heavy automotive traffic.

Parents in Salinas can shop for back-to-school deals today at Walmart, Target and Amazon, with discounts on notebooks, pencils and glue sticks (back-to-school supplies) to help lower classroom costs for the new school season.