Category: kion-local-news

Ata Shaheen

CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION-TV) — Capitola is laying the groundwork for future reinforcements to Cliff Drive.

They’ve been trying to bolster the bluffs and roadway ever since a trashing during winter storms in 2023, but there continue to be funding questions.

Capitola’s Cliff Drive, just west of the village, is picturesque but precarious.

There are sea caves that are forming because of wave runoff is causing erosion, and it’s slowly allowing the the bluff to fall,” said Robert Stephens with the Cliff Drive Resilience Rroject, at a Capitola Planning Commission meeting Thursday night.

“Its just primed for something to happen and perhaps real tragically for somebody,” said David Alvis of Capitola, who frequently jogs along Cliff Drive at night.

Last year they came up with installing a concrete wall along the bluff for about a third of a mile.

It would have anchors embedded into the slope to prevent any erosion,” said Stephens.

The Federal Highway Administration awarded Capitola $10.5 million, but that’s not enough to cover the entire plan.

“We’re doing phase one cause we’re funding limited and were gonna do phase two once we find a sugar daddy, and then we’re gonna do phase three,” said Planning Commissioner Paul Estey.

The many people who bike and walk along cliff drive are concerned about danger – not just from mother nature – but also from traffic, with cars, bikes and pedestrians jockeying for space.

“There’s been many times when I’mm really concerned that I hope we all manage to squeeze in there together.”

Capitola says they want to address that down the line.

That includes class one bike lanes, overlooks, a new multi-modal street with bike lanes on both sides and separated pedestrian from the cars” said Herlihy.

She said Capitola will continue applying for grants from an array of different agencies to try and garner funding for the entire resiliency project – which will likely cost tens of millions all together.

And folks like David Alvis who cherish the drive are eager to look after it.

“Anything they do that helps preserve and protect this area, hey count me in, and if you want me to help pour a little cement I’ll be happy to help with that too,” he said.

The timeline has phase one beginning construction in early 2027, but exact details are not yet hammered down.

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Sergio Berrueta

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (KION-TV) – The city of Scotts Valley will be saying goodbye to its vice mayor this week.

At the city council meeting last night, Vice Mayor Alan Timms made the surprise announcement.

“I will tend my resignation to the city clerk and therefore step down as a council member and vice mayor,” said Timms.

Timms says that he will officially resign tomorrow, after serving the community for 3 years.

His term was originally set to end in December of 2026.

The city council will need to decide whether to fill the seat through appointment or a special election at their meeting on September 17th.

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Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Strike Team XCZ 2325C from Santa Cruz County was sent to assist in the TCU Lightning Complex fire Thursday morning.

Wildland engines from Zayante, Scotts Valley, Central, Santa Cruz and Watsonville are enroute to Angels Camp to assist other communities threatened by various wildfires from the recent flurry of lightning caused fires in the area.

Cal Fire saying that the fire is spanning across Calaveras, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne counties, with 15% containment at 13,790 acres.

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Jeanette Bent

SOLEDAD, Calif. (KION-TV) — The City of Soledad celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday to unveil the city’s newest public art installation at Aerial Apparatus Bay on Monterey Street.

The city saying that the artwork is to commemorate Soledad’s “rich identity and heritage and serves as a vibrant tribute to the dedication, courage, and service of the City’s first responders.”

Supervisor Chris Lopez, who awarded the City a $40,000 grant to help fund the mural, said “Public art is a reflection of who we are as a community; it tells our story, honors our values, and brings people together. The Soledad Fire Apparatus Bay mural is a perfect example of how creativity and collaboration can transform a space into something meaningful for all who pass by.”

Lopez attributing the mural’s location on the new fire apparatus bay to first responders’ sacrifice and service to the communities in the past, current, and future.

The mural was designed and created by three artists: Brenda Scettrini Saglio, Paul Richmond, and Briden Cole Schueren, with a lot of community input. The city saying that it is meant to weave together themes of cultural diversity, Soledad’s past, present, and future, while honoring the vital role of local first responders within our community.

“Our public safety professionals are the backbone of Soledad. This mural is a powerful reminder of their courage, sacrifice, and daily commitment to keeping our community safe. It is also a symbol of the deep respect and gratitude we hold for those who serve,” said Anna Velazquez, Mayor of Soledad.

“There are a few Easter eggs imbedded in the piece as well that make it special and heartfelt,” wrote Supervisor Chris Lopez in a Facebook post. “A tribute to the women who sacrificed so much, working in the sun stooped over so we could stand tall, so our children could fly.”

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Victor Guzman

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The CHP confirms Highway 17 is back open after a fuel tanker overturned in the area, forcing officers to shut down the highway near Sugarloaf Road.

Crews worked well into Thursday night and into early Friday morning to make sure the road was safe for travel.

The area was closed since a fuel tanker overturned Friday morning around 6:45 a.m.

The driver of the fuel tanker suffered minor injuries but is expected to be okay.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says no waterways were impacted by the fuel leaking from the tanker after the crash.

Southbound Highway 17 closed near Sugarloaf after fuel tanker overturns

CHP Santa Cruz confirms southbound Highway 17 is shut down after a fuel tanker overturned near Sugarloaf Road.

A viewer photo shows traffic at a standstill.

Photo courtesy of CHP Santa Cruz

Photo courtesy of Robin Wojahn Brooke

Minor injuries are being reported as a result of the crash, according to the CHP.

The CHP says that while Southbound Highway 17 is closed in the area, the number 1 lane on Northbound 17 at Vine Hill will also be closed.

There’s no estimated time for reopening.

This is a developing story

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Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Last July, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that wild pigs in the Monterey County area were exposed to pesticide bait containing the anticoagulant rodenticide diphacinone, turning the pigs blue.

They said that last March, they received multiple reports of hunters and wildlife trappers fining blue muscle or fat found in wild pigs. The CDFW’s Wildlife Health Lab (WHL) reported finding “the anticoagulant rodenticide diphacinone in the stomach and liver contents of one of the wild pigs that was recovered with blue tissues.”

“Hunters should be aware that the meat of game animals, such as wild pig, deer, bear and geese, might be contaminated if that game animal has been exposed to rodenticides,” said CDFW Pesticide Investigations Coordinator Dr. Ryan Bourbour. “Rodenticide exposure can be a concern for non-target wildlife in areas where applications occur in close proximity to wildlife habitat.”

The CDFW, while continuing to investigate the rodenticide in wild pigs throughout Monterey County, say that spill-over can occur in other animals as secondary poisoning. They are also saying that repeated exposure can also effect the overall food chain.

“A 2018 study(opens in new tab) of anticoagulant rodenticide exposure in game animals across California found anticoagulant rodenticide residue in 10 out of 120 (8.3%) of the wild pig and 10 out of 12 (83%) of the bear tissue samples collected largely from animals that were frequenting agricultural or residential areas where rodenticides are commonly/more likely to be utilized,” according to the CDFW.

Why blue?

The CDFW says that commercial rodenticides are purposely dyed with blue or green color so that people can see which “effected tissue” should not be consumed.

The CDFW says that other species can eat said rodenticides (an example would be bear and geese, who they say, are known to consume the poison), so they’re asking for hunters and wildlife catchers to check for something “weird” with harvests and report it to a stage agency right away.

They are also urging people not only to not consume blue tissue, but also not to consume any part of an animal with blue fat or muscle or other abnormalities.

They are reminding people that although the animal may have been found at one location, the rodenticide may have been consumed at a different location, especially in the case of wild pigs who like to roam.

The Salinas River, south of Gonzales and the Gabilan Mountain Range are all locations where these blue pigs have been reported.

The CDFW also stressing the importance of responsible pesticide application for people using rodenticides.

For questions about pesticide use and regulations, or to report misuse, contact (831) 759-7325 (for Monterey County).

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Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — CAL FIRE BEU confirmed a home structure fire broke out Tuesday afternoon near Bradley in south Monterey County.

They said that the house fire happened at 73941 Indian Valley Road with one fire rig on scene.

Containment was held to the building and mitigation limited the threat to vegetation.

This is a developing story and more details will be added.

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Mickey Adams

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Hollister City Council will be considering a potential cost recovery ordinance for DUI enforcement at their meeting on Tuesday.

This comes as the city says they are seeing more drunk driving incidents in recent years.

Hollister Police say that between January 2022 and August 26, 2025, Hollister public safety personnel responded to 77 DUI-related traffic collisions, and police say they made 525 DUI arrests in that same time period.

A sample ordinance was provided that would help police seek an estimated $1,000 from suspects responsible for an incident, or their parents if the suspect is a minor.

The council will also be hearing a presentation on the return of the Hollister Bike Rally this past Independence Day.

They’ll be looking at the attendance and financial statistics of the event.

Council could give staff direction on the next bike rally as well, once they have a better picture of its financial impact.

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Mickey Adams

APTOS, Calif. (KION-TV) — A mountain lion was spotted on a Seascape ring camera Sunday night near Sumner and Dolphin Beach (also known as Beer Can Beach).

If you live in the area, officials are reminding people to be mindful of letting pets out in the evening as well as leaving out rat poison.

Neighbors warning of the danger that poison can pose to local wildlife like this visiting mountain lion.

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Jeanette Bent

PARKFIELD, Calif. (KION-TV) — Cal Fire BEU reported being on the scene of a vegetation fire near the Parkfield community in South Monterey County Tuesday morning.

As of around 11 a.m. officials say that the fire was approximately 10 acres in grass, burning at a slow to moderate rate of spread. They also said that there is no threat to structures.

Cal Fire BEU is asking for people to please avoid the area and give responding resources room to work.

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