KRKC COUNTRY

  PASO ROBLES, Calif. — The California Mid-State Fair welcomed 433,208 guests during its 2026 run (a 12% increase over 2025), marking another successful year celebrating agriculture, entertainment, competition, youth achievement and community participation. Nearly all areas of the Fair saw increases in participation, in some cases significant increases. All figures below are preliminary and unaudited. Fair Grandstand attendance totaled 90,527, up 9% over 2025. Including the sold-out Chris Stapleton pre-Fair concert, total Grandstand attendance was 105,011 - a 26.5% increase over last year. The Helm & Sons Carnival generated $1,621,937, down 4% from last year. The “free carnival rides on Opening Day” promotion continues to be very well attended, and Carnival Wristbands hit an all-time high with 15,036 wristbands sold by local non-profits. Food and beverage concessions saw a 3% increase over 2025. The relatively small increase may be due in part to the success of the Happy Hour p...

  SALINAS, CA — On Wednesday, August 5 Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) toured the Rancho Cielo Youth Campus, a 100-acre nonprofit that provides vocational training, supportive services, and life skills to youth in a safe environment. In July, it was announced by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that Rancho Cielo had received $1,500,000 through YouthBuild, a program administered by the DOL's Employment and Training Administration that provides education, training, and wraparound supportive services to opportunity youth.   "It's great to be back at Rancho Cielo and to see just how much this program has grown over the years," Rep. Lofgren said. "The team here is really changing young people's lives in such a meaningful way by giving them the vocational skills they need for career success. Whether they're learning welding or cooking or construction, the students here are unlocking opportunities and growing their self-confidence. I've proudly helped se...

  On Tuesday night, August 4, 2026, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling on Highway 101 in the King City area after observing multiple Vehicle Code violations. During the traffic stop, deputies located a loaded Beretta Px4 Storm .40-caliber pistol and a loaded magazine concealed beneath the driver’s seat. The driver was identified as 32-year-old Cosme Daniel Gonzales of Greenfield. Deputies determined Gonzales was a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. During the investigation, Gonzales admitted to possessing the firearm and was taken into custody without incident. Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto stated, “The illegal possession of firearms by prohibited individuals poses a serious risk to public safety. Our deputies remain vigilant in enforcing the law and will continue working every day to remove illegal firearms from our communities and hold offenders accountable.” Gonzales was booked int...

  Salinas, CA – The candidate filing period for elective offices in the November 3, 2026, General Election closes Friday, August 7, 2026. Candidate forms must be completed and submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026.   Official nomination documents will be available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., during the filing period at the Monterey County Elections Department, 1441 Schilling Place – North Building, Salinas, CA. Candidates seeking a city office must file their nomination documents with the appropriate City Clerk.   Interested candidates should schedule an appointment via email at CandidateServices@countyofmonterey.gov or by phone (831) 796-1499.   Monterey County Candidate Guidelines, detailing offices up for election and requirements, are available at www.CountyofMonterey.gov/Elections. 

SOLEDAD, CA — On Thursday, July 30, the City of Soledad and Police Chief Patrick Valenzuela mutually agreed to conclude his service with the City.   The City extends its sincere appreciation to Chief Valenzuela for his leadership and dedicated service to the Soledad Police Department and the community. During his tenure, Chief Valenzuela focused on strengthening the department by developing the next generation of leadership and investing in the professional growth of the City's police personnel.   A key objective of Chief Valenzuela's appointment was to mentor and prepare internal leaders for future executive roles within the department. Through his leadership, the department has developed a strong leadership team well-positioned to continue serving the community.   Effective immediately, City Manager Megan Hunter has appointed Jorge Arreola as Acting Chief of Police and Juan Santiago as Acting Deputy Chief. Acting Chief Arreola has served the Soledad Police Department fo...

  SALINAS, Calif. — The County of Monterey is proud to announce that homelessness has declined by 23% in unsheltered homelessness and 15% in overall homelessness according to the results of the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, marking another significant milestone in the County's ongoing efforts to address homelessness through collaboration, strategic investments, and evidence-based solutions. Additional notable reductions include a 39% decrease in chronic homelessness, a 43% decrease among veterans, a 30% decrease among families, and a 37% decrease among unaccompanied children and transition-age youth. The full report is available at: https://chsp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-Monterey-County-Census-Report.pdf.  The latest results continue a positive trend for Monterey County, which has now experienced decreases in 3 of the last 4 Point-in-Time Counts, demonstrating that sustained investments and coordinated community action are making a meaningful difference in the live...