Category: kion-local-news

Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) — On July 26 and 27, festival-goers can enjoy the first-ever Monterey Abalone Festival.

This event will take place at the Monterey Japanese American Citizens League Hall on 424 Adams Street in Monterey.

Organizers say that the event is to take a “deep dive” into exploring the history of this mollusca…

People attending the event can expect to hear from expert speakers, watch documentary films and live performances, as well as enjoy cultural demonstrations, a walking tour, abalone races and more.

The event runs between 10 a.m. And 5 p.m. on both days.

The tentative lineup of the event is as follows (subject to change):

Saturday, July 26, 2025

9:30 a.m. – Special Performance by the Monterey Taiko Drummers

10:00 a.m. 

Tim Thomas: All Things AbaloneFilm: Eric Palmer – Monterey Abalone StoryLeslie Leaney – Historic Diving LeagueArt Seavey – Monterey Abalone Farm

12:00 p.m. – Lunch Break / Walking Tour1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Film: Morro Bay: Once the Abalone Capital of the WorldSandy Lydon – Chinese and Abalone

Monterey Lion Dance leads audience to Del Monte Beach for theRumsen Ohlone Community – Abalone Dance

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. 

White Abalone Evening ProgramPanel Discussion + Two Film Premieres

Sunday, July 27, 2025

10:00 a.m.

Linda Yamane – The Rumsen Use of AbaloneFilm: Alexandria Firenzi – AbaloneGeoffery Dunn – George Sterling and the Abalone Song, The Abalone League12:00 p.m. – Lunch Break1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Film: Brian Tissot – The Black Abalone and Abalone SongSteve Roebuck – Former Abalone Fisherman

Sandy Lydon – Wrap-Up

Roy Hattori Memorial Award PresentationZoom Conversation: Kaori Mizoguchi and Emiko – The Japanese-Monterey Connection

For more information, visit the event website at https://jaclmonterey.org/2025/06/28/abalone-festival/.

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Mickey Adams

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The City of Monterey is asking for your help in shaping its 2025 Monterey Climate Action Plan.

This plan aims to reduce emissions while improving the overall quality of life for locals, focusing on key areas like energy efficiency, clean energy, sustainable transportation, and climate change mitigation.

So far in 2025, the city has held six pop-up events to engage the community in climate action dialog, the next event is scheduled for August 5 during the city council’s meeting.

For more information, including how to contribute your thoughts, visit HaveYourSayMonterey.org or scan the QR code below:

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Mickey Adams

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — If you’re a fan of murder mysteries and supporting your local library, Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries has something up your alley.

A local playwright and group of actors putting on a murder mystery show called “Final Checkout.”

The play is serving as a fundraiser for Garfield Park Library’s Literacy Programs, bringing in therapy dogs and preschool storytime.

Starting Friday night, the event takes place again on Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20.

Saturday’s show is at 7 p.m. at Satori Arts at 815 Almar Ave Unit 9 in Santa Cruz.

On Sunday, the show will take place at 2 p.m. at Cabrillo College’s Room 322 in Aptos.

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Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin was on the Central Coast this week giving an update on the work to clear Regent’s Slide on Highway 1 near Big Sur.

Regent’s Slide hit the roadway back in February of 2024, closing a 6.8 mile stretch of Highway 1 for nearly 1.5 years.

Caltrans says that since the project began, the slope has been reinforced with enough steel to stretch halfway back to Carmel with enough cement to fill 533 trucks.

Secretary Omishakin also putting emphasis on the amount of material being moved: “Up to the top of the slope — almost 650 feet of material is being worked on. And on the roadway segment itself, roughly 500 feet of dirt and material has come down onto the roadway.”

Caltrans says portions of the Regent’s Slide repair area remain geologically active, moving one foot or more per day.

While repairs are still ongoing, a date for full reopening is expected to be announced by the middle of September.

Regent’s Slide not to reopen in 2024; Caltrans

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Caltrans announced Friday that due to more cracking at the repair site, the part of Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide will not be reopening in 2024.

Caltrans says that updates about estimated reopening date(s) as well as repair progress will be provided on a regular basis.

Despite this, Caltrans says that almost 100 miles of the Big Sur Coast will be accessible to the public with the exception of a 6.8-mile segment from one mile south of the Esalen Institute to two miles north of the community of Lucia.

“We look forward to the safe and timely completion of repairs at Regent’s Slide that will allow for the full reopening of Highway 1 between Big Sur and Cambria,” said Big Sur Chamber of Commerce President Kirk Gafill.

Caltrans crews announced on August 16 that repair work at the site had to stall after they discovered new surface cracks in the slope. Since then, Caltrans says that continued land movement and slope cracking have been observed.

Crews still need to monitor the new slide as well as the land above the project site where excavation work is planned to start, according to Caltrans.

Crews will investigate the area, which will inform Caltrans about how to design the excavation work and repair, said Caltrans. Once crews and equipment can be positioned on stable ground, according to Caltrans, repairs can resume.

Caltrans says that they aim to improve crew safety while out in field and will help to address challenging repairs.

“Today, visitors from the south still have clear access to magnificent views, hiking, camping, beaches, restaurants, resorts, and all the sights that make this area distinctive,” Jim Ramey of the Ragged Point Inn said.

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Madison Wilber

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Street vendors in Monterey are pushing back against proposed ordinances that bring tighter restrictions to their trade.

The proposed changes impact vendor spacing, display height, operating hours and vending area dimensions; limiting the amount of merchandise they can display. 

“All of a sudden they’re going to cut my booth. You can look at the length of my booth, and they’ve never complained about my length, and they want to cut it down,” said Jesse Chisler, a vendor at the market. “How in the world is anybody going to be able to pay their bills in Monterey County with one table of merchandise?”

The city of Monterey said in their latest agenda that they are considering amendments to the sidewalk vending ordinance to align with state legislature and address local concerns, like citing safety and congestion.

“These new regulations will create a better spacing between vendors as well as define the space they can use for vending. These are new regulations which help the City to better enforce safe distances from the populated trails,” City Manager Hans Uslar said in a statement to KION News. “We have enforced our existing rules. These additional rules will be improving the overall sidewalk vending in this particular place.”

The vendors say they are confused because they claim there have never been any cited issues before now and disagrees with the city that they are enforcing the restrictions that are already in place.

‘Last summer was out of control in the summertime and they’ve never moderated, not you know, they come twice a year, the code enforcement guy,” Scott Powning, another vendor, said. “We need more involvement from the city then twice a year.”

James Burns, a vendor that has spoken up at multiple city council meetings, said there the city has no proof that the vendors have done anything wrong.

“We have not had any injuries. No insurance claims, no police action, no ticketing and no blocking of any emergency vehicle,” Burns said. “There is no reason for the city to they have no proof that we have caused any problems being here.”

What brings these vendors together is their desire to stay within the community and stay connected to their customers.

Daniel Arnendariz, a vendor that sells rocks and handmade jewelry said he has people from across the country make it a point to come to his stand once a year.

 “People that come here, they like to visit with me. A lot of people know me by name,” Arnendariz said.

Phillip Lindsey, another vendor, echoed Arnendariz and confirmed that the community makes a big difference,

“Locals that we know that come back all the time. They want it,” Lindsey said. “Someone will stand here for 45 minutes to an hour and just talk.”

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Victor Guzman

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. (KION-TV) — Pacific Grove Police said they arrested two men for allegedly attempting to steal cash and cafeteria food from Pacific Grove Middle School.

Investigators said the report first came in around 7:40 am on July 17th.

When Police got there they said they found one of the windows into the cafeteria was broken.

Police said they followed a trail of blood from where the suspects entered but couldn’t find them.

Pacific Grove Unified School District was able to provide surveillance footage of the break-in leading to the suspects being identified by Pacific Grove Police as 23-year-old Gabriel Mario Guertin and 22-year-old Zachary Shelby Malone.

Police said the suspects tried stealing cash from several money tills in the cafeteria, but no money was reported stolen. Police said they later discovered a large quantity of food and food products was missing from the fridge and some was found dumped near Hillcrest Avenue.

Guertin and Malone are facing burglary and conspiracy charges.

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Madison Wilber

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — The “Good Trouble” anti-Trump protests took place all across the nation Thursday.

Salinas neighbors came out to protest throughout the streets, chanting and horn-blowing in support of protesting the federal government’s numerous policies.

“We’re standing up for the farmworkers, the immigrants and everyone that’s afraid right now,” said protester Olga Reyna. “There’s a lot of people that aren’t going to work. There are people that are afraid to walk around and it’s fear itself.”

“Never in my life did I anticipate that there would be such a breakdown in law as we have seen,” said protester Luis Jaramillo.

Some people agreeing if things don’t change soon within the country, there could be severe consequences, and that’s why they protest.

“I think a lot of well-meaning, regular people in America have been misled, and when they wake up from this, they’re going to realize that they got a bad hangover,” said protester Ray Nierlich. “This has been a shameful episode.”

More and more people showed up Thursday evening in Salinas to join the “Good Trouble” protest.

“Unless we raise our voices, as we are seeing here, and unless we assert our rights as citizens of the United States — as residents of the united states — we are bound to lose our democracy,” said one protester.

People saying that they came from all over the country to participate, many of them echoing the same principal: they are frustrated with the federal government and they feel as though an injustice is coming out of the White House.

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Mickey Adams

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV) — The National Low Income Housing Coalition released its 2025 “Out of Reach” report Thursday on the high costs of housing around the nation.

The Santa Cruz-Watsonville area rated the least affordable location for a 3rd year in a row.

According to the report, the wage needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment on your own in Santa Cruz is over $81 dollars per hour.

Meanwhile, the Salinas area is listed as the 5th most expensive, with that apartment costing over $57 per hour.

And california is the least affordable state on average, taking just under 50 dollars an hour in income to afford a modest apartment.

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Katie Nicora

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — As “Big Week” officially kicks off in Salinas, people are expecting a lot of rodeo action, especially from the bull riding events.

However, there is an athlete who plays an essential role in the events, often going unnoticed. 

They are the bullfighters, mostly referred to as “rodeo clowns.”

Their role is to help the riders get out of the arena safely, often by luring the bull away or creating a barrier.

Bullfighters need exceptional agility and speed to dodge the animals’ powerful and unpredictable movements.

Riders say that without the help of the rodeo clowns, their risk of getting hurt would go up dramatically. 

“I think we all feel a little safer because they have been in the sport for so long and they are so talented, so fearless,” said Bullrider Coy Pollmeier. “I think none of us would be here — or we would probably be injured — and these bullfighters are probably the biggest thing for us bullriders.”

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Jeanette Bent

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV) — UPDATE 4:14 p.m. July 24, 2025

Safeway has released the following statement to KION News about the impending strikes:

We remain committed to productive, good-faith negotiations with the UFCW locals in Northern California. We have scheduled bargaining sessions this week and continue to work with a federal mediator. While we are disappointed that the Unions have indicated the possibility of a strike at some of our stores, we fully respect our associates’ right to engage in collective bargaining.

We are working diligently to balance the needs of our associates and customers, maintain our position as a trusted choice in the market by delivering consistent value, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our business in a highly competitive grocery industry. We are hopeful a resolution will be reached soon, as we have in other parts of the country through successful collaboration with our union partners to secure agreements that recognize and reward our dedicated associates while supporting the company’s ongoing growth.

Throughout this process, our focus remains on providing exceptional service to our customers and fostering a positive, supportive work environment for our associates across the communities we serve.

Original Article from July 16

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5 (UFCW5) confirmed to KION Wednesday that if the demands they’ve laid out to Safeway, Inc. (parent company of Albertsons) are not met, workers along the Central Coast may strike.

“This absolutely includes striking along the Central Coast,” one local UFCW5 representative said.

According to UFCW5, approximately 25,000 Safeway members are potentially getting ready to strike, depending on how negotiations between the union and company went during Wednesday’s meeting.

Since the meeting on Wednesday with a federal mediator, the two sides say they could not agree.

The union is now saying that another meeting is set for July 23, but a strike will be called if there’s no contract by midnight on July 25.

The union says they are asking for Safeway to honor their workers and dedication as well as the business success, saying that in December 2023, the company paid $4 billion in dividends to shareholders because of its strong profits.

Now, UFCSW is asking for a “reasonable contract” that includes pension and wage security that matches the high cost of living in this area.

In a statement, Safeway told KTVU: “We remain committed to engaging in good-faith discussions to reach a new agreement with UFCW locals. We are hopeful a resolution will be reached soon. We value our associates and the critical role they play in our success. We have put forward a strong offer that includes meaningful wage increases, continued investment in secure healthcare coverage, and the long-term stability of the pension plan, reflecting both the dedication of our associates and the real economic conditions facing our industry.”

The union said that after surveying members about a potential strike, 95% stated that they wanted to strike over “multiple unfair labor practices.”

The two institutions have been in negotiations over the past five months, with the official contract ending in April 2025.

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