Author: KION

Jeanette Bent

SALINAS, Calif. (KIOHN-TV) — Construction on Phase 1 of the Boronda Road Congestion Relief Project has officially resumed.

This, following a delay caused by weather conditions.

Crews have entered a preparation period to restart the project, focusing on installing drainage systems and relocating underground utilities.

Work will be done during nighttime hours by the intersection of the Boronda Road and McKinnon Avenue from June 17 until June 27 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Personnel will be in place to help direct traffic.

Construction starts for Boronda Rd Congestion Relief Project

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — The City of Salinas announced Thursday that it began Phase 1 construction for the long-awaited Boronda Rd Congestion Relief Project this week.

The city said that they’ve spent this week preparing the construction area with official breaking ground for Monday.

From Monday through Friday, the City of Salinas says that construction will last from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Lane closures that take place during this time will consider the McKinnon School bell schedule, and the city says there will be a flagger on location.

The city said that during day construction, they will be surveying, staking, demolishing sidewalks and curbs, repairing the street, installing fencing, berm and trenching construction as well as sewage and drain work.

According to the City of Salinas, night work for the project will take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Sunday through Thursday with the potential for more work, if needed. They say that installation of a safety rail and a temporary crash cushion system, as well as patching, sewage and drain work will take place at this time.

The city says that the goal of this project is to widen East Boronda Road to a four-lane road, and to create four multi-lane roundabouts at a handful of intersections. These include McKinnon Street and El Dorado Drive, Natividad Road and Independence Boulevard.

In addition to this, the city says that the project will include bioretention facilities (rain gardens that use engineered soils and specific plants to trap and uptake pollutants in stormwater); buffered bike lanes; bus pullouts; sidewalks; ADA access ramps; storm drain lines; sanitary sewer lines; better street lighting; and landscaping.

More information including updates are available on the city’s website at cityofsalinas.org.

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Victor Guzman

MARINA, Calif. (KION-TV) – Marina Police are encouraging witnesses to come forward after a pedestrian was killed in a crash Monday night. 

Officers found the victim lying in the roadway around 11 p.m. on the reservation at MBEST Drive.

Life-saving efforts were started at the scene, but he was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police add that the victim may have been hit by a second vehicle.

The driver involved remained on scene to cooperate with the investigation, and DUI is not suspected.

Westbound Reservation Road from Blanco Road was shut down overnight but has since reopened. 

Marina police are encouraging witnesses to come forward after a pedestrian was killed in a crash Tuesday night. 

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Marina Police confirm a vehicle hit a pedestrian late Monday night, forcing officers to close a portion of Reservation Road near Mbest Drive.

Police did not provide a condition of the victim; however, the CHP Traffic Log appears to indicate a “VEH VS PED/ 1144” which is normally a CHP code for this being a deadly collision. CHP Dispatchers would not confirm this information available publicly on their traffic log.

All westbound traffic on Reservation Road from Blanco to Imjin are being diverted onto Research Drive from Blanco.

Police are asking people to avoid the area until the investigation is complete.

No estimated time for reopening the road was provided by police.

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Derrick Ow

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) – A former music teacher from Salinas has been convicted of eight counts of lewd acts toward victims under 14.

44-year-old Jonathon Charles Sandoval Griffin now faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

Griffin, a music teacher working at Boronda Meadows Elementary and Roosevelt Elementary, was reported in 2023 for inappropriate conduct with a minor. Griffin was then arrested on December 15 of that year.

Griffin will return to court on June 27 for sentencing.

Salinas elementary school music teacher pleads not guilty for lewd acts with a minor, DA’s office said

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON APRIL 17, 2024 AT 3:09 P.M.- On Wednesday, a Salinas City Elementary School District music teacher pled not guilty to nine counts of lewd acts with a minor, according to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.

Jonathan Charles Sandoval Griffin is accused of inappropriate conduct with multiple minors. Salinas Police arrested Griffin on December 15.

Police said the investigation started in October when they received a report of Griffin conducting inappropriate behavior with several minors.

A spokesperson with the Salinas City Elementary School District confirmed to KION that Griffin worked at Boronda Meadows Elementary and Roosevelt Elementary Schools when he was arrested in December.

The school district said that Griffin has been put on unpaid administrative leave.

The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office said that Griffin will appear in court on June 5 for a conference pretrial.

Salinas Elementary School Music Teacher arrested for lewd acts with a minor, police say

A Salinas City Elementary School District music teacher was arrested on Friday for lewd acts with a minor according to Salinas Police.

Officers said they started investigating 43-year-old Jonathon Sandoval Griffin in October after they received a report of inappropriate conduct with several minors involving Griffin.

Investigators say that Griffin works at multiple Salinas City Elementary School District schools.

Salinas City Elementary School District told KION that since this is a criminal investigation, they are not allowed to comment at this time.

Police said that the investigation is ongoing at the moment. If you have any information regarding this case, you are asked to contact Detective Ermelinda Reyes at 831-758-7971 or email her at ermelindar@ci.salinas.ca.us.

If you want provide tips, you can call the Salinas Police Department Tip Line at 831-775-4222.

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Briana Mathaw

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV) — Multiple people living in Central Coast cities participated in “No Kings” rallies on Saturday.

The rallies are a part of a nationwide movement protesting what participants describe as growing authoritarianism and corruption under the Trump administration.

“Friends and neighbors will join together to reclaim our flag and stand united against Donald Trump’s planned military parade in Washington D.C.,” organizers said in a statement. “We want the story of America that day to be one of people coming together in communities across the country to reject strongman politics and corruption.”

The Monterey rally will focus on a range of issues, including what organizers said is the suppression of free speech, denial of due process for immigrants and undocumented individuals especially in Monterey County political detentions, threats of deportation against U.S. citizens, and the defiance of judicial orders allegedly being done by the Trump administration.

“We plan to protest against these injustices and demonstrate that people power overcomes any authoritarian aspirations,” one event coordinator said.

In Santa Cruz, demonstrators lined the streets and marched with signs through Upper Lorenzo Park, prompting a temporary street closure due to the size of the crowd.

“We will not accept a king. We will not accept an autocratic rule in this country,” one protestor said.

“What’s happening now definitely shows way too much unchecked power, violations of constitutional rights, violations of human rights. And we think people need to stand up for the democracy that they want to live in,” another protestor said.

Similar rallies also took place in other parts of the region, including Salinas, as the movement continues to build momentum across the country.

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Jeanette Bent

CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION-TV) — Capitola City Council heard a report Thursday that highlighted Castle Mobile Home Estates approaching an intense deadline.

The land that the mobile home park sits on, is designated for the Coastal Rail Trail, according to the City of Capitola.

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) had previously set a deadline of June 30 for property owners to move their homes and structures off of the land.

But some people living there say that when the RTC approached them about the project, the railway wasn’t mentioned.

This, and the cost to move the homes is simply too much to meet that deadline.

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Jeanette Bent

SAN BENITO COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — CAL FIRE BEU said that the Airline Fire is holding at approximately 60 acres with forward progress stopped.

Firefighters remain on scene, working to secure containment lines and mop up remaining hotspots, according to CAL FIRE.

The UC San Diego ALERTCalifornia cameras showed the vegetation fire climbing uphill in San Benito county Thursday evening.

According to the CHP Traffic Incident Information Page online, the fire was reported at 6:55 p.m. and as of 6:59 p.m. was reported at a couple of acres and “getting close to buildings.”

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

KION did reach out to Cal Fire units and are awaiting a response.

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Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Hundreds of people in Monterey made their voices heard Wednesday with a rally condemning the military force being used in Los Angeles over the past week.

“We felt we had to hold this rally in solidarity with the people of L.A.,” one protester told KION.

The protesters, organized by Indivisible Monterey, said that the Trump Administration is working to inflame protesters in Southern California by sending in the military.

Around the Central Coast, protesters held signs saying slogans like “immigrants make America great,” “no one is illegal,” and “ICE out.”

Many people are calling the move to bring in the National Guard a grab at power and ignoring the nation’s storied checks and balances.

Organizers are expecting more than 1,600 rallies against the Trump Administration to continue this Saturday around the nation, including multiple spots right here on the Central Coast.

Meanwhile, protests continue for a sixth day in Los Angeles.

The following list contains all the No King rallies on June 14 in the Central Coast:

Boulder Creek: 9 to 11 a.m.Central Avenue

Santa Cruz: 10 to 11:30 a.m.Upper San Lorenzo Park

Gilroy: 12 to 2 p.m.1st Street and Santa Teresa Blvd.

Watsonville: 12 to 2 p.m.Watsonville City Plaza

Hollister: 12 to 2 p.m.Airline Highway & Sunnyslope Road

Monterey: 2 to 4 p.m.Windows on the Bay

Salinas: 12 to 2 p.m.1275 S Main St

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Victor Guzman

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — In today’s Be Mindful segment: The impact of a cancer diagnosis on the mental health of patients.

Walan Chang was previously diagnosed with a form of breast cancer.

She says from there to now she had to cut back on some of the activities she was doing with local non-profits.

Part of the reason was the treatments drastically cutting down the energy she needed to get work done.

“There’s some days where you feel just so depressed and despairing about the prospects for having a good treatment or a good outcome and you feel terrible,” Walan says.

Walan noted the experience was like a roller coaster, mentally.

According to the American Cancer Society, receiving a cancer diagnosis could lead to anxiety, depression, distress and social isolation or feelings of loneliness.

Walan says she had to find ways to help with those feelings.

One of the crucial steps was entering into a form of therapy, whether it was musical, talk or art therapy.

Walan chose art, which allowed her to create pieces that in the end were an expression of her emotions.

“What you’re making only allows you to free your mind to focus on something you had no familiarity with,” Walan explains. “But once your hands are engaged in something else it made it easier to talk about your concerns and your fears.”

Some of the feelings that came up in Walan’s pieces included the words “fatigue” and “confusion.” Plus that lingering uncertainty about whether the treatment she was going through was even going to work.

She also noted some positive feelings like “joy” and “gratitude” for the treatment she was receiving and the people who were helping her.

Which brings up another aspect to Walan’s support system, which she refers to as a “Three-legged stool.”

The first two involve the medical team treating her physical systems, then her mental health team for when she’s feeling down.

“And then the third I have is my family and friends as support for when those other two teams aren’t around,” Walan says.

Walan says she’s in remission now, but is continuing health check ups because the type of cancer she had is aggressive and has a likelihood of coming back.

“Until that time comes where I get bad news, I enjoy my life now and prioritize what’s important,” Walan says. “It’s important to spend the time you want with those you want to spend time with.”

Walan also reminds people in her position to do their research to find the best oncologist for them and, of course, the best form of therapy.

For more on the support services available click here

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Maxwell Glenn

NEW YORK, New York (KION) – While Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson took home the 2024-25 Calder Memorial Trophy, Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf ended up finishing second in voting.

The Gilroy native received 15 first-place votes with a total of 1,169 points from the Professional Hockey Writers Association. He finished 65 points ahead of San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini in third, who garnered 11 first-place votes and 1,104 points.

Wolf went 29-16-8 between the pipes for the Flames in his rookie season, recording three shutouts in 53 games. The seventh-round pick also finished with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.

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