Author: KION

Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — SPCA Monterey County announced Monday that they will be offering free mobile spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats in South Monterey County.

These upcoming surgeries in South Monterey County are slated for February 12 at the King City Recreation Center on 401 Division Street; February 26 at the Soledad Lions Club on 161 Park Street; March 5 at the Soledad Lions Club on 161 Park Street; and March 19 at the King City Recreation Center on 401 Division Street.

This service is in addition to the low-cost veterinary clinic offered at the SPCA during regular business days and hours. According to the SPCA, over 8,000 animals are served each year with another service that provides free feral cat surgeries year-round.

“These free mobile clinics are open to dogs, feral cats, and friendly cats located in South Monterey County, from Chualar south to the county lines,” wrote the County of Monterey SPCA in a press release.

There is a $25 refundable deposit to hold the free clinic appointment, and the free surgeries also include rabies vaccinations as well as FVRCP for cats and DA2PP for dogs.

The SPCA wants to remind people bringing in pets to keep all feral cats inside humane traps, all friendly cats inside carriers and all dogs on a leash.

Appointments are available by visiting www.spcamc.org/vet-clinic. 

CNN Newsource

By Eduardo Huijon Jr.

Click here for updates on this story

SAN LUIS OBISPO, California (KSBY) — The Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County distributed over 500 red cards to more than 20 organizations in the area.

The red cards were provided by the immigrant legal resource center.

“We had a meeting with over 20 different organizations that are coming together in an organized way to make sure that our immigrant neighbors are safe and we’re all sharing the same accurate information,” said Rita Casaverde, Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County executive director.

Casaverde told KSBY News many organizations are coming together to help the undocumented community.

According to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the red cards have information on them to help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.

“Right now we have put more focus on sharing information to the community that has to do with their constitutional rights that we all have,” Casaverde said. “We also have shared through our social media some information to employers in case there are ICE raids.”

Some community members tell me they admire the work being done by local nonprofits.

“Nonprofits teaming up together to give those resources out I think it’s really important and I appreciate that work as well,” said MariCruz Orozco, a Central Coast resident. “As an undocumented immigrant’s daughter, it’s very meaningful work.”

“I think it’s good because everything that’s happening right now, it’s really upsetting because they do a lot for the community,” said Evelyn Fernandes, a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student. “I think that it’s good that they’re being informed of the rights and the things they could do to protect themselves.”

Matt Lazier, public information officer for Cal Poly, told KSBY News the Student Diversity and Belonging Resource Center is also distributing red cards.

“I think it’s something that’s great because I know there are people at Cal Poly [San Luis Obispo] who are dream recipients or on DACA and who are afraid during these times,” said Yareli Ibarra, a Cal Poly student, referencing the 2012 immigration policy Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. “I think it’s just very powerful for them to know what their rights are and know that they have support.”

While ICE raids have been conducted in other California communities like Kern County, Casaverde wants to make sure residents are informed of their constitutional rights if it occurs locally.

“We have not heard of any local raid happening, but we want to make sure that the community is informed,” said Casaverde. “We just never know. We have heard of ICE in Kern County, so we just want to be prepared. But we’re also trying to make sure that we develop the networks needed so our community can feel safe and connected.”

Casaverde says the Immigrant Legal Resource Center offers print-at-home red cards online in 16 different languages.

CNN Newsource

By J.R. Stone

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VALLEJO, California (KGO) — It’s the middle of the school year and hundreds of kids in Vallejo are left wondering when they’ll be able to go back to class.

Over the weekend, their school’s copper wiring was stolen and the electrical system no longer works.

More than 600 kids who attend Solano Widenmann Leadership Academy, which is K-8, will be home on Monday after the school’s electrical system was knocked out by a thief or thieves.

“Upon further examination, we discovered that someone had broken in and had stripped all our copper wiring to the breakers, essentially leaving the campus dark,” said Vallejo City Unified Superintendent Ruben Aurelio.

Family members of the kids who go to school there are angry.

“For some children, that’s their only positive environment. That’s the only safe haven they have. And to rob them from that is just inexcusable. It’s just really sad,” said Jay Stafford.

Stafford’s sister is now out of school and their family will take turns watching her this week.

Police say no arrests have been made. Aurelio says investigators are looking at surveillance video. But it was dark late Friday into early Saturday, and whoever did this took out the power.

Parents were told that a fix would likely take a week. Aurelio says it could actually be a couple of days or a couple of weeks.

“We’re not flushed with a bunch of money to all of a sudden replace thousands of feet of wiring, copper wiring. Right now, we have an estimate. It will be somewhere between $150 to 250,000 to get this campus back up,” Aurelio said.

“It’s just very sad. A lot is going on in Vallejo right now. We are what we would like to call a ‘lawless city’ almost. So much is going rampant, and it’s just really sad that now the crime has affected our children being able to attend school,” Stafford said.

Aurelio says it’s possible that extra school days could be added onto the end of the school year, but right now the focus is getting kids learning as quickly and safely as possible.

“We’re going to move to get kids back into school as soon as possible, even if that means distributing students and staff to other campuses that have space that can hold them,” Aurelio said.

“We are a very strong community. We are very close-knit. We have a lot of people who advocate in the community and do great things. I believe this is just one of those things that we will have to get over and triumph over,” Stafford said.

The Vallejo City Unified School District put out this statement:

NOTICE FOR SOLANO WIDENMANN FAMILIES: A theft has severely damaged Solano Widenmann Leadership Academy’s electrical systems, requiring the school to CANCEL CLASSES until further notice. Repairs are expected to take about a week, but if the closure extends, the district will arrange alternate student placements to minimize disruption. Updates on repairs and potential relocations will be shared on ParentSquare, and families are encouraged to contact the school or district office with any questions.

Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) announced that the airport has seen double-digit passenger growth for the third consecutive year, serving 622,543 departing and arriving travelers in 2024.

“I’m proud of the work our airport team accomplished to make 2024 a record-breaking year for passengers served—all while the airport was actively being reconstructed as part of our MRY Metamorphosis,” said Executive Director Michael La Pier.

The airport saw a 19.5% increase in passenger traffic in 2024 compared to 2023, making it the most passengers served in a 45-year span. They said that they had 311,101 departing and 311,442 arriving passengers last year.

“A new airline and destination, along with additional passenger seats by existing carriers, contributed to the airport’s busiest year since the closure of Fort Ord in 1994,” wrote the airport in a press release.

Other contributing factors included second daily nonstop flights added to San Diego (on Alaska Airlines), Dallas-Fort Worth (on American Airlines) and Denver (on United Airlines), as well as seasonal nonstop service to Minneapolis-St. Paul (on Sun Country Airlines) and Burbank and Orange County (on JSX).

The airport is saying that the “MRY Metamorphosis” is “transforming the airport” through a replacement passenger terminal, adjacent commercial aircraft ramp and several support facilities.

A handful of construction developments also contributed to the increase in passenger ship, according to the airport, and more new developments are slated for 2025.

Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The County of Monterey Board of Supervisors heard a Truth Act presentation by the Sheriff’s Office under its jurisdiction for civil immigration enforcement Tuesday.

The information presented was regarding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data over the past year. Additionally, the county considered public comment and concern over the topic.

The 2024 Truth Act information revealed that 11 people were taken into ICE custody: two for robbery, three for attempted robbery, one for assault with intent for robbery, one for false imprisonment, one for sexual battery, one for assault with a deadly weapon, one for DUI and one for intent to sale methamphetamine, according to deputies.

“We don’t give any information to ICE not covered under the Truth Act,” said the presenting sheriff following a few worried public comments.

The County of Monterey says that the Truth Act hearings are important and required by law. “The local governing body of any California county or city in which local law enforcement has provided ICE access to an individual during the previous year must provide information to the public about ICE’s access to individuals and receive and consider public comment,” wrote the county in a statement.

Some of the public comment included: “Stop all of ICE activity in Monterey County,” and “Our community is completely afraid.”

This comes after rumors of ICE presence in local areas.

District 1 Supervisor Luis Alejo chimed in, saying that “the most serious offenders” are the ones that ICE go after. “When you commit a serious crime, you have to face the repercussions,” he said.

The Board of Supervisors accepted the 2024 Truth Act report with motions detailing further information be transparent and available to the public.