KRKC COUNTRY

  SOLEDAD – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the Oct. 23, 2025 death of an incarcerated person at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) as a homicide.                            At approximately 9:52 a.m., staff in a recreation yard observed incarcerated persons 56-year-old Todd J. Givens, 61-year-old Robert England, and 51-year-old Ray N. Waldron attacking another incarcerated person, 57-year-old Todd S. Morgan, with what appeared to be improvised weapons. Staff issued clear verbal commands to immediately halt the attack. By the time responding personnel arrived, the aggressors had already stopped and staff swiftly began life-saving procedures on Morgan. He was pronounced deceased by prison medical staff at 10:04 a.m. No staff or other incarcerated people were injured. Officers recovered 3 inmate-improvised weapons at the scene. Givens, England, and Waldron ...

  SALINAS, CA – October 28 is the last day election offices will mail vote-by-mail ballots for the upcoming November 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election. Any Monterey County voter who needs a replacement mail ballot can call (831) 796-1499 by the deadline to have one mailed directly. Early in-person voting locations are available for voter assistance.   Early Voting Opportunities:     Monterey County Elections Office, 1441 Schilling Place - N. Building, Salinas, 93901, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.     Satellite Elections Office, Embassy Suites, 1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Seaside, 93955, beginning 8:00 a.m., Friday, October 31.     The Salinas and Seaside Elections Offices will be open for early weekend voting from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on Saturday, November 1, and Sunday, November 2.    Returning a Vote-by-Mail Ballot     By Mail: The last recommended day to return a voted ballot in the U.S. mail is October 28th....

  During the week of October 12, the Greenfield City Council approved accepting a $500,000 grant through the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program, as recommended by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC). This funding expands our ongoing partnership with Sun Street Centers and their Road to Success diversion program, which helps at-risk teens in Greenfield. For the past 6 years, Sun Street Centers and the Greenfield Police Department have worked together to give youth a second chance, focusing on prevention, accountability, and positive choices, before entering the court system. The Road to Success program offers: • Individualized diversion plans for youth ages 13–17 • Counseling, mentoring, and family workshops • Evidence-based programs like WhyTry and Life Skills Training • Community service opportunities and school engagement This funding will allow up to 120 youth to benefit from these services over the next 2 years, helping reduce recidivism and teaching real-w...

SAN JOSE, CA – Bay Area U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), and Sam Liccardo (CA-16) joined local healthcare executives and residents of Santa Clara County to discuss the Republican healthcare crisis and the need to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits at the Gardner Health Center located at 195 East Virginia Street in San Jose, CA on Monday, October 20.     “House Republicans have been on vacation for over a month while Americans have been getting notices that their healthcare premiums are soaring,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren . “If anyone else didn't show up to their job for a month when they knew there's urgent business to deal with, they'd lose that job. Folks in my district are seeing their healthcare costs doubling; thousands will be unable to afford insurance at all. Speaker Johnson needs to call Congress back to DC so we can pass a budget that deals with this healthcare crisis and reopens the government.”  ...

  Salinas, CA – October 17, 2025 – The California Rodeo Salinas installed a new President, 3rd Vice President, Secretary, and 3 new Directors on Thursday, October 16 during the annual stockholders' dinner. The Officer team is as follows, with some shifting titles from 2024: President Bob Eggers, 1st Vice President Tom Nielsen, 2nd Vice President Henry Dill, 3rd Vice President Tim Baldwin, Treasurer Patty Standridge, and Secretary Matt Jenkinson. New Directors include Rachelle Lightfoot, Danny Little, and Ryan Scarr. New Advisory Directors, stepping aside so new leadership can progress within the organization, include Randy Parola, John Sargenti, and Mark Scarr. These directors have made unique and meaningful contributions to the California Rodeo Salinas. With more than 70 committees supporting every aspect of the organization—from ground preparation, announcing, security, banking, and community events to many others—volunteers play a vital role in bringing this historic event to li...

  SALINAS, CA – Monterey County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday, October 17 that they have been awarded a $75,000 grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to reduce alcohol-related harm in their community. “This initiative is essential to improving youth safety and giving law enforcement the tools needed to confront and reduce criminal activity in known problem locations across Monterey County,” said Sheriff Tina Nieto. The grant is one of nearly 50 awarded in California to local law enforcement agencies through ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP) program. These grants strengthen local law enforcement efforts by combining theirs with ABC agents who have expertise in alcoholic beverage laws to help reduce alcohol-related harm within their community. “Our Alcohol Policing Partnership program can improve the quality of life in neighborhoods,” said ABC Acting Director Frank Robles. “The communities where the grant program’s resources have been ...

SALINAS, CA — The last day to register to vote for the November 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election is Monday, October 20, 2025.   Eligible citizens can register to vote: •                    Online at www.RegisterToVote.ca.gov by 11:59 p.m. on October 20, 2025; •                    In-person by 5 p.m. at the Monterey County Elections office, 1441 Schilling Place – North Building, Salinas; •                    By mail, completing a paper voter registration application, postmarked by October 20, 2025. The forms are available at libraries, post offices, DMV, and city/county offices.   To register to vote, you must be: (1) a United States Citizen; (2) a California resident; (3) at least 18 years of age on or before Election Day; (4) not be in federal or state prison for the conviction of a felony; and (5) not found mentally incompet...

  SOLEDAD – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the death of an inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) in Soledad on Tuesday night, October 14 as a homicide. At approximately 5:15 p.m., staff observed inmate 40-year-old Orlando M. Ochoa assaulting inmate 40-year-old Israel M. Mendoza and immediately responded, utilizing chemical agents to stop the attack and restrain Ochoa. Staff began life-saving measures on Mendoza and activated 911. Mendoza was transported to the prison’s triage and treatment area where he was pronounced dead by paramedics at 5:52 p.m. Ochoa was placed in restricted housing pending an investigation into this case by the SVSP Investigative Services Unit.   The Office of the Inspector General was notified, and the Monterey County Coroner will determine Mendoza’s official cause of death. Mendoza was most recently received from Yolo County on Dec. 3, 2015, sentenced to 14 years for corporal injur...

  The SPCA of Monterey County Benefit Shop’s Glitz & Glamour Jewelry & Fashion Holiday Event is taking place Friday, October 31 until Sunday, November 2. They've saved their best silver, vintage, heirloom and quality costume jewelry for this exciting event which also includes designer clothing (some new with tags) for women and men, designer shoes and handbags, holiday decor, and so much more! Please note: The SPCA Benefit Shop will be closed Wednesday-Thursday, October 29-30, to prepare for this big holiday event. The SPCA Benefit Shop is located at 26364 Carmel Rancho Lane, near the Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel. They are open Monday-Saturday from 10-4 and Sunday from 12-4. For more information please visit www.spcamc.org or call 831-624-4211. What: SPCA Glitz & Glamour Jewelry & Fashion Holiday Event Where: SPCA Benefit Shop, 26364 Carmel Rancho Lane, Carmel When: Friday, October 31 through Sunday, November 2 SPCA Monterey County is your nonprofit, independ...

  The City of King is pleased to invite everyone to the 3rd annual King City Ciclovía event on Sunday, October 19 from 12 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Broadway Street in the downtown area from First Street to San Lorenzo Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic for walkers, cyclists, runners and other non-motorized transportation. It is part of the City of King’s overall Blue Zones Project efforts.  It will also feature activities, entertainment, free Blue Zones approved food items, bicycle raffle prizes, and information on community and social services – all items designed to support health, happiness and overall well-being.   35 community and social service agencies will be participating in the event providing information on services, giveaway items, and assistance. Some of the scheduled activities include a bike rodeo, kids’ games, inflatable obstacle courses, bike repair, and a history walking tour. The first 500 families will also receive a free food bag compliments ...

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. – Monterey California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers responded to a 3-vehicle traffic crash on Highway 101 Southbound, south of the Chualar River Road Overcrossing at 6:49 pm on Sunday night, October 12.   A preliminary investigation indicates that a white KIA SUV, driven by a 41-year-old male from Salinas, was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Highway 101. The Kia SUV was also occupied by 3 passengers. At the same time, a black Honda sedan, driven by a 46-year-old Arizona resident, and a white Toyota sedan, driven by a 29-year-old resident of Salinas, were traveling southbound in the correct direction. The wrong-way Kia SUV first crashed with the Honda sedan, which then led to a secondary crash involving the Toyota sedan.   The drivers of the Kia SUV and Honda sedan sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene, while all 3 passengers in the Kia SUV sustained suspected minor to major injuries and were transported to a loca...

  SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Friday, October 10 that the Honorable Stephanie Hulsey sentenced Salinas Valley State Prison Inmate 52-year-old John Lydon to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Son Kim Tran. On May 16, 2025, John Lydon pleaded to the murder of Son Kim Tran and admitted a special allegation that he had previously been convicted of murder. On January 6, 2024, Lydon entered and remained in Tran’s cell for over an hour before exiting. Shortly thereafter, Tran was discovered dead, suffering from more than 70 stab wounds. Prior to this homicide, Lydon had been convicted of murdering two other inmates, in 2004 and 2010. This case was investigated by the Investigative Services Unit at Salinas Valley State Prison.

  WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) released the following statement after Trump and Republicans in Congress failed to avoid a government shutdown: "We are now in the first government shutdown in almost 7 years, because Trump and congressional Republicans refuse to work with Democrats to preserve the American people's healthcare," Rep. Lofgren said. "How are they going to act like they're not responsible for this mess when Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the Presidency? Speaker Johnson couldn't even be bothered to call his Members back to D.C. last night. I remain committed to working toward a budget that prioritizes Californians' healthcare needs." If Republicans get their way and allow Affordable Care Act tax credits expire, over 21,000 people in California's 18th district will see their healthcare costs rise, and 6,700 people will lose access to health coverage. For a family of four earning $129,800 a year, annu...

  SALINAS, CA – The November 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election will be here and this is what voters in Monterey County should know to get vote ready. The combined Monterey County The Elections Ballot and local Voter Information Pamphlet will begin being mailed out on October 2. State Voter Information Guides are now in the mail and will continue to mail into the week of October 5. All active voters will receive a ballot in the mail and in-person voting options will be available.   Important Dates:   September 26               - State Voter Information Guides begin mailing October 2 -Ballots tentatively scheduled to begin mailing October 6 - Ballots will be mailed no later than this date October 6 - In-person voting available at the Monterey County Elections Office, 1441 Schilling Place – Salinas October 20 - Deadline to register to vote October 21 - Same day voter registration period begins October 28 - Last day the ...

  Salinas, CA – October 1, 2025 – In light of recent reports of pets being abandoned during challenging times, both Hitchcock Road Animal Services and the SPCA of Monterey County are joining messages to urge all pet owners that dumping or abandoning animals is both illegal and inhumane. California law explicitly prohibits the abandonment of animals, which can lead to substantial penalties, including fines and criminal charges. Beyond legal implications, abandoning a pet places an animal in grave danger, exposing them to life-threatening situations such as starvation, injury, or death. Abandoned animals also go through intense stress and anxiety when left in unfamiliar environments, further threatening their safety. Recently, there has been an increase noted in animals left abandoned along roadsides. A recent example is in North Monterey County. In one week’s, time, HRAS has received multiple calls for animals, mostly dogs, abandoned at the Old Stage Road and Crazy Horse Road area. ...