KRKC COUNTRY

On Friday, July 31 Greenfield Police Department Officers found an adult male with 2 female juveniles inside a vehicle at 7th Street and Palm in the city limits of Greenfield. During the investigation it was learned that the females were juveniles from out of the area. Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit responded and continued the investigation which determined that one victim was sexually assaulted by the suspect. 21-year-old Oscar Martinez De Jesus was arrested and charged with sexual misconduct with a minor. The case is still under investigation. If anyone has additional information regarding this case, they're encouraged to contact Detective Eggers, Detective Kenedy or Sergeant Dow at the Greenfield Police Department 831-674-5111. 

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Friday, July 31 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 4,542 people, while 47,542 people have been tested in the County. 1,140 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 345 in King City, 354 in Greenfield, 283 in Soledad, 118 in Gonzales, 16 in Chualar, while 24 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 1,433 are from person to person transmissions, 1,278 have come from community transmissions, 279 people have been hospitalized, 26 people have died, 2,780 people have recovered, 1,207 are under investigation and 1,098 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

WASHINGTON DC – On Thursday, July 30 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20), Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN-02), and Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ-06) introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure new parents quickly receive the additional $500 per child payment provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.     Currently, parents of children born on or after January 1, 2020, must wait until they file taxes in calendar year 2021 to receive those payments due to eligibility for the additional $500 per child being based on existing Child Tax Credit (CTC) rules.  The Newborn CARES Act will waive the existing CTC rules and require the Internal Revenue Service to develop a system to provide payments to families with newborns once a Social Security Number is assigned to the child.  Companion legislation, S. 3679, was introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Tim Scott (R-SC).   “New parents face unique c

WASHINGTON DC – On Thursday, July 30 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20) and Congressman Billy Long (R-MO-07) introduced legislation to help preserve agricultural fairs across the country and offset the devastating financial losses they have experienced due to COVID-19.  The Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act will provide grant funding for agricultural fairs through state departments of agriculture to keep them functioning and preserve them for the future. The legislation provides $500 million in Agricultural Fair Rescue Grants to agricultural fairs, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).  The AMS will provide the grant funding to states or state departments of agriculture based on the loss of attendance those fairs have experienced in 2020. “County and local fairs are very important to agriculture and our communities all across our country.  Fairs provide our producers with the opportunity to market their crops and livestock, and foster t

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Thursday, July 30 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 4,457 people, while 46,534 people have been tested in the County. 1,123 of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 341 in King City, 348 in Greenfield, 278 in Soledad, 116 in Gonzales, 16 in Chualar, while 24 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 1,400 are from person to person transmissions, 1,231 have come from community transmissions, 274 people have been hospitalized, 26 people have died, 2,714 people have recovered, 1,208 are under investigation and 1,075 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

The U. S. Geological Survey reports that a preliminary 3.9 magnitude earthquake shook near King City at 8:23 pm Wednesday night, July 29. The quake took place along the San Andreas Fault where Highway 198 ventures into Monterey County which is over 13 miles away from San Ardo. No damage or injuries were reported.

The King City Police Department announced on Wednesday, July 29 that they caught and apprehended 20-year-old Angel Leonardo Benavides of King City, 19-year-old Pablo Emmanuel Imperial of King City and 2 juvenile males of King City on Friday, July 24 for committing crimes from July 4 to July 23 of 2020 in King City that involved burglary, tampering with vehicles, stolen vehicles, vandalism related to gang crimes, and a stolen weapon. King City Police Officers were able to identify links between the crimes which to the determination the crimes were suspected to have been committed by the same individuals. Plus, with the assistance of the city-wide video surveillance system as well as assistance from members of the community who shared private owned video surveillance King City PD officers were was able to identify the suspects.

The King City Police Department announced on Wednesday, July 29 that 22-year-old Hugo Calihua of King City was busted on Thursday, July 23 for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor off of the 600 block of North Second Street in King City on July 14. During the investigation, a specialized forensic sexual assault interview of the victim was conducted, and probable cause was developed which led to the arrest of Calihua. The identity of the victim will remain confidential.

The King City Police Department announced on Wednesday, July 29 that 18-year-old Richard Silva of King City was arrested and charged for burglary on Wednesday, July 22 for stealing $3,000 in property from the King City Fire Department on July 19 that included a fire services emergency radio, a chainsaw, and 20 helmet mounted headlamps. The KCPD initiated an investigation into the burglary and were able to develop leads which led to the identification of the suspect who committed the burglary. KCPD officers determined that Silva was in-custody at the Monterey County Jail for an unrelated matter to this investigation.

The City of Gonzales during the week of July 26 put in place an executive order meaning that people can be fined for violating face covering orders because of the COVID-19 outbreak. It applies to people who are at work, in a business or around other people and is in effect immediately. The city of Gonzales said law enforcement could present warning notices instead of citations for first-time offenders and will provide face coverings if needed. The fine for a first violation is set at $100, the second is $500 and all violations after that are subject to a $1,000 fine.

WASHINGTON DC – On Wednesday, July 29 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), and Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) introduced legislation to enhance COVID-19 relief funding for nonprofit community economic development centers that support minority- and immigrant-owned small businesses.  The Community Economic Development Center Support Act will grant funding through the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) in the Department of Commerce to local community economic development centers, through national economic development intermediaries. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and Heroes Act provided funding for Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), SCORE Centers, and Women’s Business Centers (WBC), which are officially associated with the Small Business Administration (SBA).  However, other non-profit organizations serving minority small business owners and entrepreneurs

KING CITY, Calif., — The nonprofit VNA Hospice’s innovative Latino Mobile Resource Center van will be at two South County locations in August 2020 — once in Gonzales and twice in King City — as well as four times via Zoom conferencing and five at CHISPA housing communities. The van, which was launched in November 2019, continues its mission to deliver information and resources about end-of-life decisions and care to the local Spanish-speaking communities of Monterey County. The van, funded in part by Hospice Giving Foundation, will be at the following physical locations: >8-11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 2: Identifying needed resources for the community, King City Flea Market, 625 Division St., King City. >10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 4: Identifying needed resources for the community, Vosti Recreation Center, 107 Centennial Dr., Gonzales. >8-11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 9: Educating the Community on End of Life Planning, King City Flea Market, 625 Division St. King Ci

WASHINGTON DC – On Wednesday, July 29 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID), Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA), and Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) introduced the Repairing Existing Public Land by Adding Necessary Trees Act or the REPLANT Act, legislation to expand funding for the U.S. forestland damaged by events such as wildfires, insects, and disease, while creating more than 48,000 jobs over the next ten years.  Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). To address the Forest Service’s reforestation backlog, the bill removes the current $30 million annual funding cap for the Reforestation Trust Fund, the primary source of funding for USFS’s replanting needs, making an average of $123 million annually available for reforestation in National Forests.  In addition, the REPLANT Act will direct USFS to quantify the backlog of replanting needs, reduc

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Wednesday, July 29 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 4,288 people, while 46,006 people have been tested in the County. One-thousand-sixty-seven of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 317 in King City, 333 in Greenfield, 270 in Soledad, 111 in Gonzales, 12 in Chualar, while 24 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 1,368 are from person to person transmissions, 1,198 have come from community transmissions, 272 people have been hospitalized, 26 people have died, 2,631 people have recovered, 1,116 are under investigation and 1,056 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

Monterey County is joining other local cities in approving fines for face covering violations. On Tuesday, July 28 the Monterey County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance, effective immediately, allowing for fines for those disregarding the state face covering health order for all areas in unincorporated Monterey County. Monterey County’s Health Officer issued a face covering order in April of 2020 and the State Department of Public Health issued guidance for face coverings in June of 2020, but enforcement of these orders remains a challenge. Fines would be administrative citations, not a criminal proceeding and would start at $100, $200 for a second violation, and $500 for subsequent violations. Repeated violations could also be prosecuted as a misdemeanor in the discretion of the County District Attorney. People given a citation have the option to pay the fine or appeal the citation and have a hearing before an administrative law judge. The approval on Tuesday,

WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, July 28 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) released the following statement in memory of the victims of the shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival one year after the tragedy.  The horrific violence took the lives of Stephen Romero, 6, Keyla Salazar, 13, and Trevor Irby, 25, on July 28, 2019.  Congressman Panetta represents part of the City of Gilroy.  “I join community members on the Central Coast in honoring and remembering Stephen Romero, Keyla Salazar, and Trevor Irby, young people whose lives were tragically taken in the shooting that occurred one year ago in Gilroy.  My thoughts and prayers remain with the families and loved ones of the victims, and those injured.  I also remain grateful for the will of our community and the support that they showed in the days and months following this tragedy.  We truly are Gilroy strong and Gilroy proud. “As a community member who attended the Garlic Festival on the same day of the shooting, as your Congres

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Tuesday, July 28 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 4,140 people, while 45,153 people have been tested in the County. One-thousand-four of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 300 in King City, 321 in Greenfield, 243 in Soledad, 106 in Gonzales, 12 in Chualar, while 22 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 1,334 are from person to person transmissions, 1,157 have come from community transmissions, 264 people have been hospitalized, 24 people have died, 2,543 people have recovered, 1,050 are under investigation and 1,029 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

Major scheduled road and lane closures for South Monterey County from Sunday, July 26 through Saturday, August 1 are as follows: Highway 101: Layous – First Street, King City: Long-Term Closure There will be one lane closure along northbound and southbound Highway 101 from Layous to First Street in King City for pavement work from 9:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Highway 101: Wild Horse Road – Highway 101: Long-Term The on and off ramps lanes of northbound and southbound Wild Horse Road onto Highway 101 will be closed for paving work. Electronic messaging and detour signs will be in place to alert motorists. Highway 101: Lockwood/San Lucas Road: Long-Term Closure The on and off ramps on northbound & southbound Highway 101 at Lockwood/San Lucas Road will be closed for excavation work. Highway 101: Lockwood/San Lucas – Paris Valley Road: Long-Term Closure There will be one lane closure on northbound & southbound Highway 101 at Lockwood/San Lucas Road for excavation work. H

WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, July 27 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) supported passage of the National Museum of the American Latino Act, H.R. 2420, of which he is a cosponsor.  The bill will establish a Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall dedicated to honoring the contributions of Latinos to the United States.  The legislation will now go to the Senate for consideration. “We know well on the Central Coast the contributions that Latinos have made to our culture, economy, communities, and country.  The bipartisan National Museum of the American Latino Act will share those contributions not just with the nation, but with the world,” said Congressman Panetta.  “The Latino experience should be captured, portrayed, and highlighted in our nation’s museum at the Smithsonian.” The National Museum of the American Latino Act builds on nearly 16 years’ worth of work in laying the foundation for the establishment of a future museum.  In 2003, the firs

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Monday, July 27 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 4,082 people, while 43,871 people have been tested in the County. Nine-hundred-eighty-five of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 296 in King City, 316 in Greenfield, 235 in Soledad, 105 in Gonzales, 12 in Chualar, while 21 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 1,314 are from person to person transmissions, 1,126 have come from community transmissions, 255 people have been hospitalized, 23 people have died, 2,463 people have recovered, 1,059 are under investigation and 1,014 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Sunday, July 26 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 4,002 people, while 43,341 people have been tested in the County. Nine-hundred-fifty-six of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 290 in King City, 308 in Greenfield, 232 in Soledad, 102 in Gonzales, 12 in Chualar, while 12 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 1,298 are from person to person transmissions, 1,108 have come from community transmissions, 252 people have been hospitalized, 23 people have died, 2,444 people have recovered, 1,017 are under investigation and 1,010 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

A 1 vehicle collision occurred off of Teague Avenue and Central Avenue north of King City at 4:43 pm on Friday, July 24. According to the CHP, the vehicle struck a power pole. The driver of the car suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas to be treated. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

A utility truck went off an embankment and rolled several times off of State Route 198 and Cattlemen Road less than 10 miles outside of King City on Friday, July 24 at 2:21 pm. The CHP reports that the driver was ejected from the truck receiving major injuries from the accident and ended up being transported by Helicopter to a Hospital to be treated. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

SACRAMENTO, July 24, 2020 – On Friday, July 24 Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) applauded Governor Newsom’s announcement that he will be providing much-needed COVID-19 relief to farmworkers. Rivas—along with Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella)—introduced the first-in-the-nation COVID-19 Farmworker Relief Package in April. The relief package is currently headed to the State Senate and now stands to codify and extend many of the initiatives announced on Friday, July 24 by the Governor. Since the early days of the pandemic, Rivas has led legislative efforts to protect farmworkers by expanding access to testing and personal protective equipment (PPE), providing safe agricultural housing, strengthening enforcement of worksite health and safety protocols, and implementing bilingual safety education. Said Rivas, “I thank the Governor for acting on many of my proposals and pledging the State’s resources to protect the health of our state’s agricultural workers, who are u

WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, July 24 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) supported passage of H.R. 7608.  The package includes four Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations bills: State-Foreign Operations, Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA, Interior-Environment, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.  Congressman Panetta successfully incorporated numerous amendments to the bills, including provisions to protect the environment and natural resources on the Central Coast, strengthen agricultural research and food security, support U.S. allies and partners, and bolster funding for veterans’ programs.  The package will now go to the Senate for consideration. COVID-19 This legislation provides the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) legal authority to require the recall of unsafe prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Congressman Panetta secured language to prohibit the use of funds to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization. Protection of Central Coast Natural Resource

SACRAMENTO, July 24, 2020 – PBS Frontline this week released a documentary, COVID’s Hidden Toll, highlighting the tough current working conditions for many agricultural workers and an immediate need for greater worker protections. Assemblymember Robert Rivas—who is featured in the documentary— introduced a first-in-the-nation COVID-19 Farmworker Relief Package in the California Legislature in April and has been working with a variety of stakeholders since the start of the pandemic to address critical health, workplace safety, and economic issues affecting these essential, but vulnerable, workers. Rivas said, “As shown by PBS Frontline’s documentary, which was filmed in and around Salinas in my District, many farmworkers live, commute, and work in overcrowded conditions that do not allow them to socially distance or self-isolate when sick or at risk for COVID-19 exposure. Many are not provided personal protective gear and lack adequate nutrition and healthcare while working for extre

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Friday, July 24 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 3,865 people, while 42,178 people have been tested in the County. Nine-hundred-two of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 282 in King City, 295 in Greenfield, 216 in Soledad, 97 in Gonzales, 12 in Chualar, while 13 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 1,226 are from person to person transmissions, 1,048 have come from community transmissions, 246 people have been hospitalized, 22 people have died, 2,321 people have recovered, 1,002 are under investigation and 972 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

On Thursday, July 23 the House voted on and passed an appropriations bill that included District 20 Congressman Jimmy Panetta’s (D-Carmel Valley) amendment to prohibit funds from being used to open up public lands within the Central Coast for oil and gas leasing.  This appropriations bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now will be considered by the U.S. Senate. Background: On Oct. 4, 2019 the Bureau of Land Management’s Central Coast Field Office announced that it would allow new oil and gas leasing proposals on more than 720,000 acres of public land in 11 Central Coast region counties - primarily in Fresno, Monterey, and San Benito counties. Congressman Panetta vehemently opposed this decision, saying, “The Administration’s decision threatens not just the environment, but also the economy and our communities on the Central Coast.” In December of 2019 Congressman Panetta introduced the California Central Coast Conservation Act, to establish a moratorium on all new

On Thursday, July 23 the King City City Council adopted an Urgency Ordinance establishing a process for issuing citations to those that do not comply with the requirement to wear face coverings while at work, in businesses and around other people as instituted by an Order from the Governor and the Monterey County Health Officer.   The Ordinance becomes effective immediately. The action was taken in order to help prevent further spread of COVID-19 in response to concerns regarding the current rate of new cases and hospitalizations. The City of King will continue to seek compliance primarily through public education. According to City Manager Steve Adams: “Most of the community has responded extremely well to the changes required during this difficult time and the City is very appreciative, but we need to continue to improve since cases continue to increase.”  The new Ordinance is designed to provide another tool for the Police Department to effectively enforce these measures with

WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, July 23 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-02), Congressman David B. McKinley (WV-01), Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Congressman Dean Phillips (MN-03) and Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02) led their fellow members of Congress in urging House leadership to include strong funding in the next COVID-19 relief package for the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) to help our schools properly support students with disabilities.  "Though educational support was made available to schools and states through the CARES Act, there is an immediate need for designated special education emergency funding. To address this gap, we are requesting $13 billion in funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including in the form of the Part B grants-to-states program, in the next coronavirus relief package. This funding will ensure that schools can properly support students with disabilitie

Updated numbers from the Monterey County Health Department on Thursday, July 23 report that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County are now at 3,726 people, while 41,560 people have been tested in the County. Eight-hundred-seventy-five of the cases are out of South Monterey County which include 276 in King City, 278 in Greenfield, 202 in Soledad, 95 in Gonzales, 12 in Chualar, while 12 cases are from other cities or towns in South Monterey County. In addition, 1,165 are from person to person transmissions, 1015 have come from community transmissions, 245 people have been hospitalized, 22 people have died, 2,225 people have recovered, 953 are under investigation and 957 people who work in Agriculture have come down with COVID-19.

WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, July 22 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) voted for the Great American Outdoors Act, a landmark conservation bill that will help ensure public lands are protected and preserved.  The bipartisan legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is now heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.  “The bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act will encourage conservation, recreation, and access to the outdoors while addressing significant deferred maintenance in our National Parks and Forests.  By helping to reduce critical infrastructure backlogs, this bill will keep our communities safe and our public lands resilient.  Additionally, by providing full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which has supported conservation activities on treasured public lands from the Los Padres National Forest to the Watsonville Wetlands, this bill will help ensure our communities can continue to access and assi

WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, July 22 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) and Congressman Billy Long (MO-07) led their colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter urging House leadership to include strong support for our state and county agricultural fairs in the next COVID-19 relief package. "In times of emergency, fairgrounds … provide areas of shelter and refuge.  They can serve as temporary evacuation and medical sites for victims and livestock following disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods.  Fair operators are often responsible for the costs of maintaining fairgrounds as critical infrastructure so they are ready when disasters strike," the members wrote. The members continued, "In response to the financial distress the COVID-19 crisis has placed on America’s fairs, and given the importance they play in the promotion of and development of America’s Agribusiness, it is imperative that financially stressed fairs be provided