Good morning, Salinas.

The family of Army specialist Amanpreet Thind continues a private search off Big Sur at Soberanes Point with expert divers and jet ski rescuers—local teams stopped looking last week because rough ocean conditions made it unsafe, and his brother said they need to find him for closure.

New research shows that a January battery fire in Moss Landing released toxic metals into a protected marine estuary—an investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing in Protect Salinas Renters' petition efforts.

KAZU's general manager, Dan Larkin, resigned abruptly after just seven months.

Montage Health announced it will open a new urgent care next year in Fall 2026 at 1910 North Davis Road, adjacent to its Salinas Wellness Center.

All its urgent care sites will operate under the new name Montage Urgent Care - a change meant to expand access and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits.

Montage Health’s Ohana in Ryan Ranch is offering mental health support for youth and families as the busy holiday season brings more stress and anxiety; the facility, which opened two years ago, provides a 16-bed residential program, weekday treatment and outpatient services.

Staff advise focusing on meaningful connections and self-care to help manage the season’s challenges.

The County of Monterey Health Department warned that over Thanksgiving weekend, more than two foragers were hospitalized after eating white cap mushrooms foraged in Monterey County—no fatalities have been reported.

Health officials stressed that wild mushrooms can look normal but may cause severe symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain and urged only trained individuals to forage them.

College soccer player Kevyn Trejo Aviles from Hartnell scored a goal and assisted on the only goal in a 1–0 win over Evergreen Valley—sending the Panthers to the 3C2A State Final 4—while players from MPC and CSUMB received honorable mentions.