KRKC COUNTRY

  Monterey, California - April 29, 2026-The final day of the backyard burn season is Thursday, April 30, 2026, for Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties. Every year, from May 1 through November 30, backyard burning of residential yard trimmings is prohibited. Fires to dispose of dry vegetation cleared before a construction project are also banned. These types of fires are prohibited during the summer and fall due to increased air pollution and fire danger. Burning vegetation emits carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and hydrocarbons into the air. During warmer weather conditions, some of these pollutants combine and react to form ozone and smog. Exposure to air pollution can cause health effects ranging from irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat to respiratory disease. These exposures can also aggravate existing health conditions such as asthma and emphysema. The backyard burn season restriction does not prohibit agricultural burning, including prescrib...

  SALINAS, CA, April 29, 2026 – The countdown is on! Tickets for Big Week attractions like the carnival and Coors Banquet Bull Xing Cantina, Big Week Bull Riding, and the 116th California Rodeo Salinas (July 16–19, 2026) will go on sale next week at carodeo.com. On-sale dates are staggered from May 5 through May 7, giving fans multiple opportunities to secure their spot at one of California’s most iconic summer events. Important Ticket On-Sale Dates (Online Only): • May 5 @ 10 AM – Coors Banquet Bull Xing Combo Ticket: Big Week Bull Riding (July 15) + Bull Xing (21+) • May 6 @ 10 AM – Coors Banquet Bull Xing Combo Ticket: Friday Rodeo (July 17) + Bull Xing (21+) • May 7 @ 10 AM – Carnival, Big Week Bull Riding, and California Rodeo Salinas Tickets The California Rodeo Ticket Office will open June 1st for in-person purchases. See ticket prices below. Carnival – July 10–19, 2026 (located at 295 Sun Way in Salinas) Enjoy family-friendly fun all week long with rides, games, and food fo...

  Soledad, CA — The Youth Councils of Greenfield, Gonzales, and Soledad are proud to announce the 3rd Annual South County Youth Summit (SCYS) on May 2, 2026, from 9am to 2pm at the Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center in Gonzales. Student registration closes on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Organizers strongly encourage students to register early to secure their spot. Organized by youth, for youth, the summit brings together students, community leaders, and organizations to empower the next generation with the knowledge, connections, and opportunities they need to succeed. This year’s theme, “Beyond the Diploma,” focuses on helping students explore what comes next—whether that means college, career pathways, or programs designed to support their transition into the next chapter of their lives. Following last year's success with over 100 participants, this year’s summit is expected to draw 130–140 attendees. The program includes interactive workshops, a resource fair, giv...

  Lake San Antonio, South Shore will close on Thursday, April 30 through Sunday, May 3 for the highly anticipated Wildflower Experience (Wildflower). Wildflower is a 3-day event including a weekend festival and triathlon (bicycle, running and swimming) race. This event includes both races and a festival featuring live entertainment, celebration beer garden, wine tasting and informative race clinics. Attendance is estimated to be 6,000 people including participants, spectators, volunteers and employees. Race details are at https://www.wildflowerexperience.com/ There will be no general public admittance at South Shore from Thursday, April 30t through Sunday, May 3. North Shore will remain open to the public during the event. Boat launching will not be restricted at North Shore on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 during the race. Boats may not access the area marked in red on the map (at right) during the swim, which is scheduled to take place from approximately 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sat...

  Firefighters with CAL FIRE BEU, the King City Fire Department, the Greenfield Fire Department and Fires Crews with the the South Monterey County Fire Protection District were paged to a commercial structure fire that broke out in the area of Airport Road and close to Bitterwater Road near the King City Airport after 10:30 pm on Monday night, April 27. It took over 5 hours for fire crews to control the fire and ensure that the scene was fully stabilized prior to being released. CAL FIRE BEU states that this response highlights the strength of mutual aid and the continued partnership between agencies working together to protect the communities they serve. 1 person was evaluated for injuries. The cause of the fire is unknown. 

  WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, April  27 Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) introduced an amendment to The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 that would add the text of her bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act. This legislation, re-introduced by Lofgren and Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) in May 2025, would create a workforce solution for America's agriculture industry by reforming the H-2A guestworker program to provide more flexibility for employers while ensuring protections for workers and providing legal status to the existing workforce. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act was negotiated over nine months with input from employers and the United Farm Workers union, and it passed the House with strong bipartisan support in 2019 and 2021. "Farmers across the country are being adversely impacted by the agricultural workforce shortage. That's leading to unpicked crops and increased food prices," said Rep. Lofgren. "I've worked across the aisle for y...