California Pesticide Activists Take "Big Six" to International Tribunal
To commemorate the 27th anniversary of the Bhopal, India disaster that left 8,000 dead after Union Carbide chemical manufacturing plant exploded, a coalition of anti-pesticide groups are taking the biggest players in the industry before an international tribunal. The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, the successor of the International War Crimes Tribunal, ...
Collins Pleads Not Guilty; Next Court Date Dec. 7
Former Monterey County Water Resources Agency board member Steve Collins pleaded not guilty Wednesday to 39 criminal charges, including two felony conflict-of-interest charges related to his role in the Regional Desalination Project.
Fishy Fish and Metallic Cranberries
The Monterey County Health Department releases recalls from three companies including Ocean Spray.
UPDATE: Point Pinos Grill Neighbor Challenges Extended Hours
At a hearing today on the lawsuit challenging Point Pinos Grill's extended hours, Judge Kay Kingsley denied Troth's request for a temporary restraining order—allowing the Grill to stay open from 5-10pm while the lawsuit moves forward.
Crabbers, Buyers Finally Agree to Price
Crab fishermen and buyers come to an agreement on price, meaning fresh crab should hit stores soon.
Carmelita Garcia Enters Assembly Race
Pacific Grove Mayor Carmelita Garcia is taking on Mark Stone for the new 29th Assembly District, while Bill Monning shoots for State Senate.
Public Wary of Proposed Jacks Peak Zipline
Public opposition is mounting against a proposed zipline course at Jacks Peak County Park.
Arysta's Reponse to Lawsuit: Methyl Iodide a Success
In a brief filed today Alameda County Superior Court, Arysta dismisses the gist of a lawsuit filed by EarthJustice and California Rural Legal Assistance as "meritless arguments." "Petitioners’ challenge, though artfully framed as a violation of the law...is an invitation for the Court inappropriately to second-guess DPR’s scientific findings and ...
CPUC Proposes Smart Meter Opt-Out Plan
People who don't want Smart Meters on their homes may be able to opt out—for a price, under a proposed decision by Commissioner Michael Peevey of the California Public Utilities Commission. The decision would allow Pacific Gas &Electric's residential customers to swap their wireless Smart Meters for non-communicating electric and/or ...
UPDATED: Carmel Hotel Workers File Complaint Against Pine Inn
Carmel hospitality workers have plenty of reasons to be feeling thankless this Thanksgiving. Workers gathered Tuesday afternoon at Pine Inn, protesting on behalf of 28 employees who have been without a contract for nearly a year. Workers are demanding continued health care benefits for spouses and children, which have been ...
Another Salinas Man Arrested in Child Porn Bust
Salinas resident Sean Cromer was arrested early this morning at Monterey Peninsula Airport for possession of child pornography, making him the fifth man arrested as part of a multi-agency child porn bust coordinated by the San Jose-based Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Seaside City Manager Ray Corpuz in Top Running for Salinas Boss
Seaside City Manager Ray Corpuz is a top candidate for Salinas city manager, Corpuz confirmed today.
Two Salinas Valley State Prison Inmates Still On the Loose
Two Salinas Valley State Prison inmates who walked away from the Minimum Support Facility in Soledad Saturday are still on the loose, according to SVSP Spokesman Michael Nilsson.
Pallastrini Bests Kreitman For Seat on Carmel School Board
Write-in candidate Karl Pallastrini edged out rival Richard Kreitman for a seat on the Carmel Unified School District Board of Directors.
Salvation Army Looks to the Community for Turkeys
The Salvation Army at the Good Samaritan Center in Sand City has almost half the turkeys they need in order to hit their 800-bird goal this year.
Occupy Monterey Activists Join One Man's 24/7 City Hall Vigil
Scores of Occupy Monterey activists joined Timothy Barrett at Colton Hall Friday night in solidarity with his round-the-clock vigil in front of City Council chambers.
The Shit List: Food Recalls, Beach Closures and What It All Means
A look at news causing (or caused by) errant feces in Central California this week.
Former Penn State President Graham Spanier Resigns from NPS Board
As the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal continues to keep the nation aghast, former Penn State President Graham Spanier has resigned from the Naval Postgraduate School board of advisers just days after taking leave of Penn State. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was recommended by the secretary of the Navy ...
MST Wins Federal Grant to Buy Hybrid Buses
Hybrid buses will soon take to the streets of Monterey County, thanks to a nearly $800,000 federal grant to Monterey-Salinas Transit, which today became one of 28 transit agencies nationwide to receive an award toward purchasing vehicles with clean-fuel technologies. "We look forward to being able to use the latest ...
Settlement Could Keep New Salinas Adult Day Care Center Open
A settlement agreement will keep 300 adult day health centers open across California, including one in Salinas.
Multi-Agency Child Porn Bust in Salinas, Marina
Four Monterey County men were arrested this morning in a child pornography sweep led by San Jose Police Department and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The raids began at 7am with 62 officers from 16 agencies, including Salinas, Marina and Seaside police; Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal ...
Alisal High School Assistant Principal Arrested for Sex with Student
Alisal High School Assistant Principal Raul Ramirez was arrested today for statutory rape and child abuse after a Salinas PD investigation revealed Ramirez allegedly had sex with a 14-year-old student over the course of several months. Police officers arrested Ramirez, 38, in Ceres, Calif., where he was visiting relatives. He ...
Steve Collins Arraignment Continued Until Nov. 30
Former Monterey County Water Resources Agency board member Steve Collins was booked Wednesday on 39 criminal charges, but his arraignment was continued to Nov. 30.
Hartnell College President Phoebe Helm to Retire in June
Hartnell College President Phoebe Helm will retire at the end of the current school year, and the Board of Trustees is launching a national search for her replacement, according to a release sent out by the college late Tuesday.
Steve Collins Charged with Grand Theft
The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Nov. 15 slapped former county Water Resources Agency board member Stephen Collins with 39 criminal charges, including two felony conflict-of-interest charges stemming from contracts he made for the Regional Desalination Project.
CPUC Judge Slaps Cal Am in San Clemente Dam Decision
California American Water can only charge its customers for the cost of removing the San Clemente Dam and re-routing the Carmel River, an administrative law judge for the California Public Utilities Commission decided Thursday. That means ratepayers will shoulder $49 million in costs as a surcharge on their water bills ...
Jim Cook to Lead Newly Formed County Economic Development Department
The county hires Redevelopment and Housing Director Jim Cook to lead the newly formed Economic Development Department.
Salinas Growers Take the Helm of the Western Growers Association
The agricultural trade association representing 90 percent of the fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in California today announced new leadership on its board with a good showing—fully half of the executive committee—for Salinas. Mike Jarrard, president of Mann Packing, will serve as the new chairman of Irvine-based Western Growers (he ...
County Picks Interim Water Agency Boss
David Chardovayne will fill in for former General Manager Curtis Weeks, who stepped down amid a conflict-of-interest scandal related to the Regional Desalination Project, until next June.
Botulism From Black Bean Tortillas Prompts Recall
The manufacturer of Gentes Foods Gordita Black Bean Tortillas has issued a recall on selected variations of the product due to potential Clostridium botulinum contamination. Several Safeway and Pak N Save stores in Central California, including the Safeway on 1546 N. Main in Salinas are known to have received the ...
Occupy Monterey Marches Tonight and Sunday
Occupy Monterey holds a march tonight at 6pm at Colton Hall and Sunday at noon at Window on the Bay Park.
Over 200 Monterey County Ballots Disappeared in USPS Glitch
Monterey County Elections Office staffers are scratching their heads over just how the U.S. Postal Service temporarily lost 234 mailed-in ballots that could change the outcome of some close races.
County Asks National Park Service to Recognize Old Jail
The National Park Service may include the old county jail on its list of historically significant sites.
Hundreds Mourn Marina Fire Victims At Memorial Service
Marina residents mourned en masse Thursday night as they gathered at Epiphany Lutheran & Episcopal Church to remember the victims of Saturday's fire at Mt. Carmel Residential Care Facility.
Gov. Brown Appoints Bruce Delgado to Water Board; Ag Waiver Debate Could Move Forward
Long-awaited appointments to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board include two locals.
CSUMB Faculty Blast Chancellor, Demand Better Pay
Over 70 CSU Monterey Bay faculty, staff and students picketed on school grounds Wednesday to protest broken promises about pay raises and call for the resignation of CSU Chancellor Charles Reed.
Cause of Marina Fire Still Unknown; Caregivers Attempted to Rescue Patients
The Marina Police Department has released the findings of its preliminary investigation into Saturday night's fire at a Marina residential care facility that killed five adults.
P.G.'s Measure V Tanks; Measures S, T and U Sail
Tax-hiking ballot measures had mixed results in the Nov. 8 election.
Byrne Washes Doyle Off Peninsula Water Board
Brower narrowly keeps his seat; candidates sense voter dissatisfaction.
Incumbents, Newcomers Win School Board Races
The Nov. 8 election didn't cause any major upsets in school board races.
Rubber Dam, Repaired and Put to Bed for Winter
Rubber Dam repairs were completed a day ahead of schedule, but the dam never went into operation this season due to lack of irrigation demand.
Santa Cruz County Passes Resolution Opposing Methyl Iodide
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors votes 5-0 to support a resolution opposing the use of methyl iodide.
Monarch Numbers Up at P.G. Sanctuary
Monarch butterflies numbered more than 7,400 in the P.G. Monarch Grove Sanctuary last week, in an encouraging report from Monarch Alert.
Five Killed in Marina Care Facility Fire; Cause of Blaze Unknown
Five people were found dead after a fire engulfed a home care facility in Marina late Saturday night.
Cinemark to Open "Extreme Digital" Cinema on Cannery Row Next Month
A state-of-the-art Cinemark digital cinema is coming to Cannery Row next month, replacing the failed IMAX theater in the Edgewater Packing facility on Wave Street.
Salinas Businesswoman Indicted On Tax Evasion
Monterey resident and Steinbeck Real Estate owner Cheryl Ann Savage pleaded not guilty to three counts of tax evasion Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's Northern District office announced Thursday.
Boxer Asks Feds to Clarify Fishery Catch-Share Program
But U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer is asking the feds to consider the needs of smaller fishing communities in the shift to the new catch-share program.
First Strawberry Field Methyl Iodide Application Goes Without a Hitch
Fumigators used methyl iodide yesterday in the first commercial application of the product on a Central Coast field; state officials commit to a continued assessment of the fumigant's registered status.
Monterey Bans Single-Use Plastic Bags
The Monterey City Council unanimously approved a ban on the distribution of single-use plastic bags Tuesday night, making Monterey the first Peninsula city to enact such a ban.
Monterey Bay Aquarium White Shark Dies Shortly After Release
The juvenile great white shark exhibited and released by Monterey Bay Aquarium died soon after its release south of Goleta.
Marina High Lifts Lockdown After False Weapon Report
The schedule at Marina High was shaken up Tuesday when school officials put the campus on lockdown in response to an unsubstantiated report of a student with a gun. Though no gun was found and the campus reopened just before 2pm, the event still sent small shock waves through the ...
Byrl Smith To Run for County Supervisor
On the sunny front steps of Seaside City Hall, Byrl Smith announced Tuesday her candidacy for the County Board of Supervisors. "I will return a can-do attitude to the board," she told a crowd of about 60 supporters who chanted, "We need Byrl." Smith laid out three priority commitments of ...
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