Good morning, Salinas.

Beloved open-water swimmer Erica Fox, 55, who vanished on Dec.

21 during a weekly swim at Lovers Point, was found deceased on a Santa Cruz beach on Dec. 27 & her local swim community mourned her loss as officials reviewed safety protocols.

PG&E is offering a bill credit of $25 to $100 for residential customers who lost power for at least 48 consecutive hours during last week’s storms.

The credit appears automatically on the next bill for qualifying accounts (no application required), though it may not cover all losses.

Edward Cavallini, a World War II veteran and founding member of the Monterey Jazz Festival, died on Christmas Eve (102).

He served as an infantry platoon commander during Iwo Jima and helped create a festival that celebrated music for 67 years.

See Monterey launched Off the Canvas, an initiative highlighting murals, sculptures and creative spaces throughout Monterey County from Sand City to Salinas; the program will feature workshops and a digital mural map that invites residents and visitors to share their favorite local art on social media.

Faculty and students at Cal State Monterey Bay are testing an educational version of ChatGPT to study its impact on teaching, ethics, and career preparation as grant-funded research focuses on new courses to prepare future teachers for AI-driven work (reflecting both enthusiasm and concern).

California will start a new law (AB 1454) in 2026 to boost student literacy by requiring new learning materials for kindergarten to eighth grade.

Test scores from Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties show many students struggle with reading, prompting updates to state guidance for local programs.

Over the past few weeks, a mountain lion frequently visited homes in Corral de Tierra, attacking domestic animals including a miniature horse and dogs + the California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued non-lethal permits and may relocate the animal to ease community concerns as residents called for stronger measures.

Monterey County’s top varsity girls flag football teams will face Santa Cruz teams at the 2nd Annual RSF/GPF Central Coast All-Stars Game on Sunday, Jan.

4 at Aptos High School, with a skills competition at noon and the game at 1 p.m. Tickets are $5 and students free with ID.

Chamber Music Monterey Bay: Lysander Piano Trio

8 p.m. — Harden Ranch Plaza — Contact for ticket info — Experience exquisite musical performances by the renowned Lysander Piano Trio.

Dr Cesar Lozano Live

8-9:30 p.m. — Fox Theater — Ticket prices vary — Experience the engaging humor and insight of Dr. Cesar Lozano in Salinas.