Good morning, Salinas.

Salinas held a 9/11 memorial ceremony yesterday to honor the victims of the attacks—residents and officials paused for a moment of silence to reflect on the tragedy.

Santa Cruz’s Joby Aviation is set to add Blade’s air services to the Uber app by next year—following its recent acquisition of Blade’s passenger business in August—to expand its urban air mobility network with electric air taxis that carry four passengers and a pilot.

The company said its move builds on Blade’s track record of flying over 50,000 passengers last year.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Education ended its grant program for Hispanic-Serving Institutions—removing $350 million in federal funding—that many local colleges relied on to support Latino students.

Campus officials have already set aside alternative budgets to protect key student programs.

CalPIA has partnered with surplus service and CDCR to offer job training in e-waste management at Soledad Correctional Training Facility where inmates learn how to fix and reuse electronics.

Participants are hopeful for a future outside prison—while the program reports a 15% return-to-custody rate after three years.

California lawmakers introduced several employment bills this fall that aim to change pay rules, worker safety, and surveillance limits, and Gov. Newsom must act by Oct 12 so approved laws will start on Jan 1.

The state also announced that the minimum wage and full-time exempt salaries will rise next year — changes that will affect businesses and employees across the region.

UC Davis junior Brooke Hibino returned to the court this fall after a potential career-threatening injury last season and has logged 24 kills in four matches—she also has 11 digs, three blocks, and a serving ace.

The tall outside hitter, who earned All-County honors at Salinas High with 531 kills over three seasons, is now a key player for the Aggies.

On Saturday, Santa Rosa will face Monterey Peninsula at 1 p.m. as MPC comes off a dramatic comeback win and holds a 13-game winning streak with its highest poll ranking in 25 years—while Los Medanos meets Hartnell at 1 p.m. at Rabobank as Los Medanos leads the state in turnover ratio and scoring. The preview games set a key test for both teams as they build on strong early season performances.

Lawrence Bettencourt from Gonzales and Salinas’ Alissa Escutia have been nominated by the San Francisco 49ers for the NFL Latino Youth Honors program—an initiative that honors young football players as role models in their communities.

La Arrolladora Banda El Limon Live

2-3:30 p.m. — Salinas Sports Complex — Ticket prices vary — Experience the vibrant performance of La Arrolladora Banda El Limon in concert.

GRIDLIFE Laguna Festival

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca — Check website for pricing — Experience the thrilling finale of motorsports with races, drifting, music, and food at this vibrant festival.

Steinbeck Center’s Annual Street Fair

12:00 AM — 100 Block of Main St, Salinas, CA — Free entry — Enjoy a family-friendly day with live music, vintage cars, and fun activities at this community street fair.

California International Airshow Salinas 2025

7 p.m. – 10 p.m. — California International Airshow, Salinas — $15.00 to $625.00 — Experience thrilling aerial performances and family-friendly exhibits at California's premier airshow event.