KRKC COUNTRY

  SALINAS, CA, February 13, 2026—The California Rodeo Salinas will start accepting applications on Saturday, February 14 for the 2026 Miss California Rodeo Salinas Contest, set to take place June 30-July 2, 2026, with the new titleholder crowned on July 2. The Miss California Rodeo Salinas program celebrates leadership, horsemanship, and a passion for Western heritage. Contestants compete in horsemanship, public speaking, and personality, highlighting their rodeo knowledge, equestrian ability, confidence, and communication skills. Current titleholder Rachel Lancaster, Miss California Rodeo Salinas 2025, has spent the past year representing the Rodeo throughout the community and beyond. “Serving as Miss California Rodeo Salinas has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Lancaster. “This role has pushed me to grow as a leader and advocate for rodeo, while connecting with people who truly care about preserving our Western way of life. I’m excited to see the next young woman st...

  Monterey, CA – As the March 2 priority financial aid deadline approaches, Monterey County high school seniors completing the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) are encouraged to check whether they have a CalKIDS Scholarship that can help pay for college or career training. In Monterey County, more than $27 million in CalKIDS Scholarship funds are available to support students pursuing higher education. The scholarship is easy to claim and doesn’t require essay submissions, recommendation letters, or a minimum GPA. CalKIDS is the nation’s largest child development account program, providing scholarships of up to $1,500 for eligible California public school students. Funded by the State of California and administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, chaired by State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, CalKIDS helps reduce financial barriers as students plan for college or career training. “CalKIDS was created to support students at moments when financial decisions can feel...

  Salinas, CA — The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex has been officially recognized by the U.S. Congress for its ambitious vision to transform previously undeveloped land into a vibrant, state-of-the-art sports and recreation hub. The US Congress has awarded $500,000 in federal funding, thanks to extraordinary efforts made by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. This grant will help support the next phase of expansion for the Complex, a critical investment that advances what is poised to become the largest sports facility between San Francisco and Los Angeles. "I was proud to have submitted the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex as one of my community project requests this year, and I'm glad to see this funding coming to Monterey County," Rep. Lofgren said. "This is a big investment in Salinas' future as a regional cultural hub, and I am thrilled that Californians of all ages will get to enjoy this complex for generations to come.” The funding marks a significant milestone in ...

  SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on February 11 that on February 10, 2026, a Monterey County jury found 44-year-old Noel Ledesma formerly a resident of Soledad and Yuma, Ariz., guilty of the 2010 first-degree murder of Yvette Martinez. In early 2010, Martinez and Ledesma dated, but they subsequently broke up. Despite the breakup, they remained connected to each other. For months, Ledesma attempted to persuade Martinez to get back together with him. However, in mid-September, Martinez began dating another person. On October 9, 2010, Martinez went out with friends and her then-boyfriend. She went out drinking in Salinas and then went to a corn maze with her boyfriend. She saw a different friend at a Salinas restaurant before heading home. Throughout the night, Ledesma was calling and texting Martinez’s cell phone, but she largely ignored his texts and calls. As the night progressed, Ledesma became angrier that Martinez was not res...

  SAN JOSE – A former California state correctional lieutenant was arrested on Monday, February 9 on charges of conspiring to smuggle contraband into a state prison in exchange for approximately $100,000 in payments from an inmate. 39-year-old Matthew L. Madsen of Greenfield, Calif., made his initial appearance in federal district court in San Jose on February 9. According to the criminal complaint filed on February 4, 2026, and unsealed on February 9, Madsen was employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2017 to 2025, during which time he primarily worked at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, Calif.  Cellular devices are not permitted in California state prisons because they can be used to circumvent the mandatory screening of communications into and out of institutions, and have been used by inmates to plan violent attacks and the smuggling and trafficking of contraband, including narcotics. Accordingly, like all state correctional empl...

  KING CITY, CA – Applications are now open for the 2026 Miss Salinas Valley Fair Competition, an exciting opportunity for young women ages 16–20 to serve as ambassadors for one of the most loved fairs in the Salinas Valley. Eligible contestants must reside in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Northern San Luis Obispo, or Southern Santa Clara counties. The competition is also open to residents in Coalinga. The application deadline is March 6, 2026. The contest will be held at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds over the course of two days, March 26th and 27th . The selected titleholder will represent the Salinas Valley Fair, taking place May 14–17, 2026, and help promote this year’s fair theme, “Red, White, and Bloom.” As a representative of the fair, the winner will participate in promotional appearances and community events throughout the next year, including the Miss California Rodeo Contest in Salinas, CA. “This program is such a wonderful opportunity for young women to grow their c...