KRKC COUNTRY

SOLEDAD – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the Nov. 29, 2025, death of incarcerated person 26-year-old Kevin A. Torres at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) in Soledad as a homicide. At 9:19 p.m., custody staff conducting a security check in a Housing Unit approached a cell occupied by Torres and another incarcerated person identified as 39-year-old Thomas Farias. Staff discovered Torres unresponsive in the cell. Responding personnel immediately initiated life-saving efforts.   Torres was transported by ambulance to an outside medical facility, where he was pronounced dead at 10:49 p.m. by medical personnel. Farias has been placed in restricted housing pending an investigation by the SVSP Investigative Services Unit and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office for potential murder charges. The Office of the Inspector General was notified, and the Monterey County Coroner will determine the official cause of death. ...

  King City, Calif. – As the holiday season approaches the King City Police Department reminds drivers to celebrate responsibly by choosing a sober way to go by using a designated driver, public transit or calling a taxi or rideshare service to get to and from your destination safely. Everyday, about 34 people in the United States are killed in drunk-driving crashes — that's one person every 42 minutes. "Our priority is keeping the community safe this holiday season," said King City Police Sergeant Chris Langston. "If you’re heading out to celebrate, don’t risk it. Plan ahead for a safe drive with a designated driver or by arranging alternative transportation." Drunk driving continues to be a factor in fatal traffic crashes in the United States, especially during the holidays. During the 2019-2023 December months, there were 4,931 people killed in alcohol-impaired crashes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In California, 1,355 peopl...

  Doreen Liberto announced on December 1, 2025 her plans to retire as the King City Community Development Director in the Spring of 2026. Liberto's intent is to provide time to assist the new city manager once he or she is appointed and begins work in January and then to allow for recruitment of her replacement.  Liberto has served as the City’s Community Development Director for 20 years, including both as a private consultant under contract from 2005 to 2023 and the last two years as a full-time in-house employee. Prior to that, she worked as a consultant on City projects for 2 years.    Liberto has been responsible for a long list of accomplishments, including updates to the Housing and other General Plan Elements, processing major projects such as the Mills Ranch and Arboleda subdivisions and Downtown Addition Specific Plan, and development of the plan for the Multimodal Transit Center and Amtrak stop. Liberto was particularly instrumental in helping to provide t...