Category: kion-local-news

Jeanette Bent

PAJARO VALLEY, Calif (KION-TV) — Pajaro Valley leaders are holding a rally on Monday calling for other local leaders to push-back on proposed federal cuts to the SNAP program.

They say the effects it could have on local farms could be detrimental.

The event is being organized by the Pajaro Valley Collaborative and will feature speakers from Second Harvest Food Bank, Community Bridges and the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau.

Leaders say that the new federal budget will cut $300 billion from SNAP, the biggest cut in the program’s history.

This, and it could affect more than 33,000 people in the county.

The rally is happening on Monday at 11 a.m. in front of Second Harvest Food Bank in Watsonville.

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Victor Guzman

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Rowers could be seen leaving Monterey as part of the annual World’s Toughest Row competition.

The trip spans 2,800 miles and consists of five teams this year.

Families, friends and supporters could be seen cheering on the rowers as they started their journeys just after 6 a.m. on Friday.

To learn more about the teams and competition, click here.

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Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — A new walking, talking AI robot calif is paying a visit to Cannery Row next month.

One of PETA’s newest creations, Charli XC Cow, is making a national tour and making a cameo in Monterey County.

The famous calf has been previously featured on the “Late Show” with Stephen Colbert.

Also, the robot animal will be asking passersby mooo-ving questions. Then, if the person says they’re wearing vegan leather, Charli breaks out into a special robot dance.

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Dania Romero

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) — Encompass, the largest nonprofit provider in the county, according to the CEO, Shellee Stopera, could close this location in Watsonville as soon as the end of this month.

“It’s a very heartfelt situation that we’re in, you know, imagining that these individuals, because they’ll have nowhere else to go,” said Stopera

Many of its clients are on Medi-Cal. The future of the affordable health care option is in limbo after Governor Gavin Newsom’s plans to add new restrictions.

“I believe a third of the population has medical. So that’s the demographic that we’re serving. And of course you know, state-level things are coming down, changing and modifying what medicals is gonna look like,” said Stopera.

The non-profit has received $125 from the county for room and board per day. That number is going down to $75 per day. Stopera says that’s not enough to keep the doors open.

“Those discussions had begun with the county informing them that, you know,w we have to look at something different because we can’t sustain 75 dollars,” said Stopera

Those discussions led the county to contribute over $400,000.

But with a deficit of over 600,000 from Encompass, it still was not enough.

This is not the first closure the non-profit has faced. Patients at the Live Oak facility had to be transitioned to other programs or discharged.

And that may happen to the patients in Watsonville.

“Where do these individuals have to go? Where will they go? What’s the impact? You know, will they find, you know, well, you have situations where, you know, they’re more present out in the community, creating and affecting the dynamics in the community,” said Stopera.

Shellee says they have been notified and will work with them to get them transferred to a different program, but worst comes to worst, some may be laid off.

We reached out to the county for comment, but have not heard back.

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Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — On June 7 and 8, the City of Santa Cruz will be working with the Coast Guard to remove heavy equipment and wooden debris from the sea floor.

This is following the wharf’s partial collapse late last year.

Preparation and equipment mobilization for the operation were scheduled to be done Friday, while the in-water removal will be happening on Saturday and Sunday.

The city says the operation has been delayed until now due to the need for calm sea conditions during the removal process.

The wharf and its businesses will stay open during the operation, but the city is asking people to stay clear of the work zone.

Beachgoers and boaters are also asked by the city to stay at least 300 feet away from any dive flags.

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Lindsey Selzer

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — A North Salinas sprinter, Clara Adams, has made international headlines after winning the CIF State Championship title last Saturday.

She was then disqualified after a post-race celebration with a fire extinguisher.

“I’m Clara Adams. I’m the 400 meters champion,” she said, “And I was wrongfully disqualified for this.” 

At North Salinas High School today, Adams, her family and more supportive community members came to show their support.

Adams speaking out Friday morning at the North Salinas High School Library, recalling the events leading up to her being disqualified…

“I went on the grass and sprayed my spikes because my feet were on fire,” said Adams. “I just ran. I just ran 53 seconds in the 400 for the second time in my whole life career.”

Adam’s father said he was the one who helped her come up and execute the celebration.

“I take full responsibility,” he said, “Because if I didn’t give her the fire extinguisher, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

David Adams, who is also a football coach, said he and his daughter were looking to bring more fun to the sport. 

“You can do backflips in the end zone after a touchdown. You can jump up high five in front of your opponent and everything is okay,” said Adams. “But then we go to track. We have to be quiet. They want us to be silent.”

Since the incident last weekend, Adams and her father have hired prominent civil rights attorney Adante Pointer.

“She won on the track. But I guarantee you we will win in the courtroom,” Adante said. “If you won’t listen to the will of the people, then maybe you’re going to have to listen to the judge.”

Clara said she feels that her moment was taken away from her.

“They took me wearing that medal around my neck and running everybody away from me,” she said. “And, they took it away from me like, we’ll never know. I could have run faster, I could do PR and I could have won.”

Adante Pointer said they’re giving the CIF a chance to speak up.

“They have a window to correct this wrong. We do forgive, but we will not forget,” Pointer said. “I mean, let’s be clear… and so I call on the CIF to right this wrong.”

As for what’s up next with Clara Adams? Clara told KION she has many things to look forward to on the track this summer.

“I have Nike coming up at 20,” Clara said. “I have West Coast Nationals coming up and I have the Junior Olympics coming up.”

Clara’s going into her junior year, where colleges are supposed to start scouting her, but she’s now gotten national attention. 

“We have Princeton mak[ing] contact with us,” Adam’s father said. “We had a track associate from UCLA make contact with us yesterday as well. So, that was a really big deal from all of this.”

Clara is now ready to get an idea of where she will be spending her future on the track.

“During that race, I beat a USC commit and a Stanford commit,” Clara said. “So… where am I going?”

KION reached out to CIF for comment, and we have not heard a response back.

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Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Salmon season is opening for recreational fishing starting Saturday for the first time in years.

But — it’s only for a limited time.

Recreational fishing will only be open Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8 and the time could shrink further.

A harvest limit of 7,000 salmon has been set, and if it isn’t reached this weekend, more weekends could open up for fishing in July and August until the limit is reached.

Ahead of the fishing season, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is asking boaters to slow down and keep an eye out for otters.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife say they expect high boat traffic in Moss Landing and the Elkhorn Slough, raising the chances of crafts striking otters and other wildlife.

The aquarium is also telling people to follow designated “no wake” zones and to appoint an Otter Spotter to avoid crashes.

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Jeanette Bent

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION-TV) — With the 4th of July fast approaching, the City of Seaside is reminding locals about its firework curfew policy this year.

The city only allows safe and sane fireworks, and they are only authorized for use and purchase between June 28 and July 5 before 10 p.m.

During this period, the city is enforcing a 10 p.m curfew for the use of those fireworks.

Those caught using illegal fireworks or using safe and sane fireworks past the curfew, can be fined $1,000 or more for more violations.

Seaside Fire Department with updates to firework enforcement ahead of the 4th of July

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Seaside Fire Department held a presentation for the City Council tonight on firework enforcement ahead of the 4th of July.

Officials say that there is a zero tolerance policy for illegal fireworks in the City of Seaside. They say that they plan to use more drones this year and police bodycam footage to catch people in the act for both administrative and criminal citations.

Authorities are also proposing no parking on General Jim Moore Boulevard between Hilby Avenue and Coe Avenue.

They are also proposing closing a portion of Laguna Grande Park.

Local authorities also say they are working to educate the community about the illegal fireworks through outreach as well as a partnership with T-N-T Fireworks to help get the word out to local schools.

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Lindsey Selzer

SALINAS, Calif. (KION)

Clara Adams, a sophomore student sprinter at North Salinas High School was stripped of her 400 meter state championship title due to a celebration after the race.

Adam’s sprayed her shoes with a fire extinguisher, her title taken moments after. Along with the chance to compete in her next race that day, the 200 meter.

KION’S Lindsey Selzer sat down with Clara Adams and talked about what happened, and what’s next for Clara.

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Victor Guzman

RIO DEL MAR/LA SELVA, Calif. (KION-TV) — Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County confirms one person is dead after a fire at a home sparked late Tuesday night.

Central Fire says they responded to the initial reports of the fire around 11:31 p.m. along Seascape Boulevard between the Rio Del Mar and La Selva areas of Santa Cruz County.

“It happened so fast, amazing how fast it went up,” said David Anastacio who described the moments his home went up in flames.

He says he had just gotten into bed when his friend’s urgent cries jolted him awake.

“I went in and lay on my bed for maybe not even a minute. And I heard, Dave, Dave. And I had heard them, it was like a distress call. So I jumped up and I ran out the door. And I came into the room right next door, and the flames were on fire,” said Anastacio.

Now he worries the friend who saved him didn’t save himself.

“If they didn’t go, Dave, Dave, yelling for me, I’d be burned up right now. He saved my life.”

The next morning, yellow caution tape could be seen surrounding the charred structure.

According to Central Fire, one person was inside the home when they arrived.

That person passed away on the scene.

Fire crews believe the fire started on the first floor.

According to Division Chief Nigel Miller, it took several hours and agencies to put out the flames.

Miller says there was a lot of extreme fire behavior because of the items inside the home, and the home itself is looking like a total loss.

“A lot of items inside the structure and burning the actual structure membranes,” said Nigel.

Fire crews say the fire is still under investigation.

David says he is staying with a friend while he figures out his living situation.

Central Fire says the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is setting up accommodations for the people who lived in the home.

No identifying information of the person who died was provided.

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