Good morning, Salinas.

On Sept. 23, News-Press & Gazette Company dissolved Salinas' local newsroom and laid off 13 workers including Telemundo-23 anchor Sandy Santos — ending Spanish-language local coverage.

Gonzales celebrated a new $750,000 fire truck funded by a Community Development Block Grant and Measure K while the Monterey Firefighters Community Foundation launched defensible space grants for homeowners at high wildfire risk.

KION laid off local newsroom staff without warning and announced that KPIX will now handle the daily news.

A water conservation program aimed at helping rural homes is expanding in the Salinas Valley — promoting water savings and lower costs.

Central Coast sommelier Paige Bindel from Pebble Beach Resort, with over 22 years of experience, will represent Team USA at the World Tasting Championship in France on October 3-4—an event that tests teams by having them identify 12 wines in 10 minutes.

Monterey Jazz Festival 2025 will bring live jazz music to communities in Monterey County — including Salinas, Big Sur, and Carmel-by-the-Sea—as its organizers plan to spark independent thought during the event.

On Tuesday, September 23, students at the Rancho Cielo Drummond Culinary Academy in Salinas prepared a luncheon as part of Taste of Markon— a chef summit celebrating local bounty.

General Manager Wanda Straw said 22 chefs from across the country will take part in the two-day event set for Oct 3.

Federal funding ended on September 10th for grants supporting Hispanic-Serving and Minority-Serving institutions—impacting Monterey County colleges like CSU Monterey Bay, Monterey Peninsula College and Hartnell College.

Local officials said the cuts reduced funds for student programs such as tutoring, STEM internships and dual enrollment.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that 95 large whale entanglements happened last year compared to 64 the previous year, with California accounting for 25% of cases off the San Francisco and Monterey Bay coast.

The report said many incidents were linked to fishing gear—prompting calls for safer fishing methods to protect the whales.

Caltrans said it will reopen the closed portion of scenic Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide by the end of March 2026, although seasonal weather and additional slide activity may delay the reopening—officials are using drones and remote-controlled equipment to safely remove soil and rock. The work follows a slide that closed the roadway in February 2024 and aims to restore travel for local residents and visitors.

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors finalized short-term rental regulations for vacation rentals in the coastal zone—dividing them into three categories and setting limits in certain areas.

Salinas City Council voted 4—3 to put four controversial renter protection ordinances on the November ballot for 2026, keeping them in effect until the public vote and fueling a debate between tenants and landlords.

California Gov. Newsom and the governors of Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii announced that Covid, flu, and RSV vaccines will be offered together to all residents based on updated science-backed guidelines.

Community-based flu clinics in Monterey County will begin offering shots on Oct. 8—expanding local access.

Salinas, 25-1 on the road under coach Steve Zenk (two wins shy of his record), will play Soquel on Friday in a Gabilan Division game (after Soquel ended Salinas’ title run last fall by scoring 34 unanswered points).

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.