Good morning, Salinas.

CAL FIRE reported that the Plaskett Fire near Gorda has burned 8,241 acres and remains 1% contained, prompting evacuation orders and a 54-mile closure of Highway 1 from south of the Little Sur River to south of Salmon Creek as crews work to protect homes.

A marine heat wave has kept coastal waters warmer since May 2025 — a new warm area began off Southern California in May 2026; NOAA forecasts the warm water will persist through year-end and may expand north by February.

Gardening columnist Tom Karwin explains his plan to revise his small pond today by selecting dwarf lotus seeds and local minnows while managing algae and water flow with a low-level bubbler for a balanced garden feature.

On Saturday, Monterey County high school football games featured tough matchups across the Bay Area.

Clovis won with a strong second half over Salinas and Hartnell was halted at the goal line at Delta.