KRKC COUNTRY

  Your SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is caring for a tiny long-tailed weasel who came to us as an orphan.  The 2 1/2 week old baby, so young that his eyes are not yet open, was found in the middle of a hiking trail in Ft. Ord. Weasels are born underground and do not venture above ground until their eyes are open and they are active and mobile, around five to six weeks of age.  The small baby weasel currently weighs 28 grams, about the weight of one single strawberry.  The orphaned baby weasel was dehydrated, thin, and vocalizing for his mother. He is now being raised in our gentle, professional care. Skilled SPCA wildlife technicians are feeding him formula with a syringe eight times a day and through the night. He is in an incubator snuggling close to a stuffed toy.    SPCA Monterey County expects the baby weasel to be in our care indoors for about a month, when he will graduate to an outdoor enclosure to learn to run, hunt...

  WASHINGTON, DC — Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Mike Lee (R-UT), on Thursday, March 12 introduced an updated version of the Government Surveillance Reform Act to enact new protections for Americans’ rights, including stopping the federal government from buying data on Americans from shady data brokers, while reauthorizing and reforming Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The Government Surveillance Reform Act is the only bipartisan, bicameral bill on offer to reform FISA 702 and other government surveillance programs. It is cosponsored by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA). “Now more than ever, unchecked government access to Americans’ personal information threatens their privacy, their civil liberties, and our democracy,” Rep. Lofgren said.  “Congress should not reauthorize broad domestic surv...

  [MONTEREY COUNTY, CA – MARCH 12, 2026] – The Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC) is pleased to announce that applications for the Spring Cycle of the Community Arts Grants will officially open on Monday, March 16, 2026. These grants are designed to empower local nonprofit organizations to bring vibrant public arts and culture programs to life across the region. The Community Arts Grants provide awards of up to $7,500 annually to support both new initiatives and the sustaining of beloved existing programs. To be eligible, nonprofit organizations must have a total annual revenue less than $3 million. “We are proud to support the vision of our local organizations that work tirelessly to enrich our community through the arts,” said Jacquie Atchison, Executive Director at Arts4MC. “Whether it’s a mural, a performance, or a community workshop, these grants help ensure that arts and culture remain accessible to everyone in Monterey County.” The Community Arts Grants are made poss...

  SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on March 12 support for Assembly Bill 46 (Nguyen), legislation that would give courts greater discretion to consider public safety when deciding whether a defendant should receive mental health diversion. This bill closes legal loopholes in California’s mental health diversion law by restoring judicial discretion and ensuring the program provides treatment while protecting community safety. Mental health diversion, created under Penal Code §1001.36, was designed to help individuals suffering from mental illness receive treatment instead of incarceration. However, recent court rulings and statutory limitations have significantly restricted judges’ ability to deny diversion, even in serious and violent cases, leaving courts with limited authority to evaluate whether diversion is truly appropriate. Under current law, once a defendant meets certain statutory criteria, judges have very limited discret...

  According to Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto the Sheriff's Office is aware of concerns being raised by the public about a possible planned attack on the state of California by Iran. The Sheriff's Office received multiple calls throughout Wednesday afternoon, March 11 from concerned residents regarding this information and has been in contact with their federal partners since the beginning of the conflict and can confirm that THESE THREATS ARE UNSUBSTANTIATED. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office asks that the public exercise caution and not share unverified and non-credible information so as to not cause unnecessary fear and panic in their communities. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office will continue to communicate with their federal partners and if they are made aware of any credible and imminent threats to California or Monterey County, they will communicate this information to the public through their social media platforms and through the local media.

  Salinas, CA – The regular candidate filing period for the June 2, 2026, Statewide Direct Primary Election has closed. The filing period for the following offices, in which an eligible incumbent did not file, is extended until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.   OFFICE NAME     Auditor/Controller     Monterey County Superintendent of Schools   Information regarding state office extensions will be added to the Monterey County Elections website as available.   Candidates filing during this period must meet all filing obligations. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call (831) 796-1499, toll-free (866) 887-9274 or email CandidateServices@countyofmonterey.gov.

  PASO ROBLES, CA – The California Mid-State Fair is proud to announce that 8-Time Academy of Country Music “Group of the Year” Old Dominion will perform Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM as part of the Michelob ULTRA Concert Series in the Chumash Grandstand Arena at the Paso Robles Event Center. Openers are Dasha and Annie Bosko. Tickets for the concert go on sale Friday, March 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM and are priced at $70, $80, $90, $110, and $120. Tickets are available online only. To ensure ticket authenticity and face-value pricing, fans should begin their purchase at MidStateFair.com, which links directly to the official ticketing provider. Old Dominion’s skyscraping anthems and electrifying live shows have put the multi-platinum-selling band prominently at the forefront of country music. Fusing clever lyrics and an infectious sound, their lyrical wit and hook-heavy songwriting has certainly proved to be a winning formula for Nashville’s hottest band. Since breaking onto the m...