Sara Rubin

An amazing resource for locals looking to get involved with social justice discussions, trainings, protests, etc — a calendar of What/When/Where courtesy @unitemontereyco.bsky.social: unitemontereycounty.net/social-justi...

Here to plug the California Local News Fellowship—an awesome partnership between newsrooms and State of California to fund early-career journalists. @montereycountynow.com is proud to host @katierodriguez.bsky.social (who rocks). New fellow application period opens today:

Nearing 100 years, Carmel’s historic cocktail bar Sade’s is slated for closure. Carmel's beloved dive bar, Sade's Cocktails, is set to close its doors after almost a century due to lease issues. Owner fights to preserve its legacy.

Then you can plan your weekend with our A&E coverage courtesy of @agatapopeda.bsky.social (at www.montereycountynow.com/entertainment/home/) and go top it off with a final drink at Sade's in Carmel for the bar's last night tonight, or just read about it courtesy @katierodriguez.bsky.social

Cover

To read more about the behind-the-scenes state of local journalism check out @erikchalhoub.montereycountynow.com's cover story in this week's edition — and @celiajimenez.bsky.social's companion piece about Spanish-language news. Helpful context for this work this amazing team is doing.

Local members of Congress address national immigration enforcement turmoil and regional impacts. US Representatives denounce ICE and CBP misconduct, calling for increased training and accountability. Learn about the impacts on local communities.

And @celiajimenez.bsky.social wrote an important yesterday about @usrepjimmypanetta.bsky.social and @lofgren.house.gov weighing in on ICE, and also posted about the Alisal Arch funds approved by the County Board of Supes (www.montereycountynow.com/blogs/news_b...)

The Monterey City Council moves forward with ballot measures to increase revenue in light of the city’s structural budget deficit. Monterey City Council is taking action to close its budget gap by placing sales and parking tax initiatives on the June ballot.

We have not one but two (!) stories about @cityofmonterey.bsky.social by our newest staff writer, Aric Sleeper, about two ballot measures approved that are coming to voters in June plus a new city manager (www.montereycountynow.com/blogs/news_b...)

Nearly 500 of CHOMP's 800 nurses vote in favor of joining a union in historic vote. Registered nurses at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula have overwhelmingly voted in favor of joining the California Nurses Association in an election that ended Friday, Jan. 30. The vote

Busy news week here capped by a busy news day - hat's off to @pammarino.montereycountynow.com for breaking the news about a vote by CHOMP nurses to unionize then following through reporting on today's vote, plus a story about the new Kimpton hotel in P.G. (www.montereycountynow.com/blogs/news_b...)

Hello journos! We at @montereycountynow.com are excited to launch Salinas Valley Now this spring. We are hiring a full-time staff writer and a part-time editor. Please share among your networks, @mallorycarra.com @thelatinonewsletter.org www.journalismjobs.com/job-listings...

I was looking for ways to support the people fighting to defend dignity, safety and peace in Minneapolis, and a friend there posted this helpful link to mutual aid groups: linktr.ee/mplsmutualai...

SCUBA Great White Shark Encounter - Monastery Beach, CA, 2025 - 4K YouTube video by Soup Cat JJ

Amazing underwater video by local divers at Monastery Beach showing a white shark swimming right past them — looks elegant from this angle more than fierce! From Dec. 30, 2025: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GO1...

It has been so beautiful at Lovers Point after we lost Erica. I don’t think anyone photographed the rainbow on Sunday. I am reminded of the Robinson Jeffers line: “I admired the beauty
While I was human, now I am part of the beauty.”
www.montereycountynow.com/blogs/opinio...

At Monterey Regional Airport right now, board chair Carl Miller is announcing a new nonstop route that starts in May 2026: MRY-ORD. (That's Chicago.)

Epic roving station from #Salinas Police who are distributing paletas at #Ciclovia

Cool bikes at #Ciclovia. Serious question: how do they get on and off?

Littlest little kids performing at #ciclovia #salinas today.

The entire newsroom at Salinas TV station KION is dissolved in merger with San Francisco-based KPIX. Salinas TV station KION's newsroom dissolves in merger with KPIX. 13 staff laid off, KPIX takes over coverage.

End of an era in the sad march of corporate overlords dismantling local news. CBS Bay Area KPIX has taken over Salinas-based KION, and on day one all 13 people in the Salinas newsroom are laid off.

Those are some big numbers.

I came out for a tour a couple weeks ago but what a joy to see it now full of life and kid energy.

Big Sur Land Trust and Salinas cut the ribbon on Ensen Community Park. Discover Ensen Community Park in Salinas, where nature meets recreation. Explore restored habitats, trails, and community spaces for all to enjoy.

I wrote last week about how thrilling this kind of long term and multi partner project is.

www.montereycountynow.com/opinion/loca...

Amazing grand opening celebration of Ensen Community Park today. Congrats to the City of Salinas and @bigsurlandtrust.org for making this happen.

Great work by @celiajimenez.bsky.social and @pammarino.bsky.social !

It’s time to rethink the ever-growing series of Car Week events. Explore Monterey's Car Week impact and future. Assess reviews, tourism, and environmental concerns faced by the community.

I invite you (you!) to participate in my informal poll: Do you love #CarWeek, hate Car Week or feel indifferent about Car Week?

That's the lede to my column in this week's @montereycountynow.com about the unregulated burden of Car Week (actually 10 days) on the community:

I've asked this question before and I ask it again, in honor of #CarWeek: Drivers who do not use your turn signal, why not?

It's a quick, easy flick of a finger, and almost 100% of the time there is another driver or a pedestrian or a bicyclist who finds it helpful.

The county’s vacation rental ordinance faces one more hurdle for approval. Monterey County's vacation rental ordinance awaits approval. See how it could impact local housing and tourism.

Are you chiming in tomorrow at the California Coastal Commission meeting on short-term rentals in Monterey County? @pammarino.montereycountynow.com wrote this preview—this policy has been years, like a LOT of years, in the making.

Update: This item has been tabled, will post more tomorrow.

Salinas City Council considers a sponsorship that violates the church/state separation. Salinas Council debates $100K sponsorship for an event intertwining church values and public funds, challenging church/state separation.

Salinas City Council meeting starts imminently. They will discuss a $100,000 sponsorship of July Fourth fireworks event hosted by Compass Church—which appears to violate not only of the city's own sponsorship policy, but also church/state separation. www.montereycountynow.com/blogs/opinio...

Yes, our website is not compatible with GDPR unfortunately.

A groundbreaking underwater science camera is helping researchers study how deep-sea octopus move. Explore how the EyeRIS camera reveals insights into deep-sea octopus mechanics, aiding research with groundbreaking 3D imaging at depths of 4,000 meters.

So cool, how octopuses do their octopus thing.

Reporting about research @kakanikatija.bsky.social is doing at @mbarinews.bsky.social by @katierodriguez.bsky.social for @montereycountynow.com

"They have no bones yet are able to move across complex underwater terrain with ease,” Katija says.

Best Of 2025 Finals Please click the link to complete this form.

Today is the day, voting begins for the annual Best Of Monterey County Readers' [that's you] Poll in @montereycountynow.com — choose your faves here.

The @nytimes.com mini crossword today includes a clue referencing @csumb.bsky.social’s mascot so I think I can retire from word games now.