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By Chris Neklason
Published Apr 28, 2025

Gov. Gavin Newsom joined CAL FIRE Chief Joe Tyler and firefighting personnel last week to announce that, as peak fire season approaches, California is adding a second C-130 airtanker to the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet.

The News: April 28, 2025

The Headline: CALocal Forks ‘The Newsletter’

We have noted that the stack of information we send out every Monday in our weekly edition of The Newsletter has grown. Starting now, instead of distributing one really big collection of carefully curated information per week, we’re going to send you two pretty big collections.

Below as always find a News Digest drawn from trusted sources in your neighborhood; a profile of a local nonprofit; Announcements from your elected public servants and other government entities; and yes! A recipe! On Thursday, look for Explainers and other original content from California Local.

The Throughline: Scanning the news in the ten counties we currently serve, our friend and CEO Chris Neklason often notices that a theme emerges. It might be because it’s tax time or Grand Jury season or flu season. This week, as you scan the Digest localized for your county, you are likely to find news about work being done to prepare for fire season. Scroll to learn more.

Recipe of the Week

Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.

See more recipes in their Taste Spring! cookbook.

Healthy spring salad is packed with antioxidants

This pretty spring salad is loaded with nutrition from blueberries, spinach, Brussels sprouts and other vegetables.

New! Blueberry spinach salad with honey-Dijon vinaigrette

	Monterey County's Homepage
Our overview page for Monterey County is updated daily with the latest state and local news, weather alerts, local government announcements and local blog posts and news snippets from community groups and individuals.
Direct your browser to monterey.californialocal.com to catch up on the latest news in California and Monterey County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!

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Max's Helping Paws Foundation

Pets aren’t just furry, four-legged friends, but members of the family. Max’s Helping Paws Foundation believes in keeping pets and their owners together, which is why it assists guardians of sick or injured animals with medical costs.

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From Our Media Allies

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	California Workforce Board Executive Director Kaina Pereira on Developing a Strong Statewide Workforce
	In a recent interview with Sacramento News & Review Publisher Jeff vonKaenel, California Workforce Development Board Executive Director Kaina Pereira shared his vision for workforce development boards and highlighted both the challenges and opportunities they face.

	Groups Within NOAA Remain Flexible Amid Federal Policy and Budget Uncertainties.
	In October 2024, a humpback whale, named “Check” by researchers, was found entangled in gear left behind from the Dungeness crab fishery. Whale-watching groups first spotted and reported the humpback near Moss Landing, and again noticed the whale entangled in …

	A Plan for Trails in Laguna Grande Park Nears Permitting; Just Have to Mind the Turtles.
	On file at the Monterey Public Library is an undated pamphlet from the Seaside Chamber of Commerce that appears to have been published in the 1950s or early ’60s. It’s titled, “Laguna Grande as a Recreation and Entertainment Project,” and …

	As a Marina Sports Center Inches Closer to Construction, the Public Is Invited on a Tour.
	In the three decades since Fort Ord closed, the City of Marina – despite its government still operating out of mobile trailers since it was incorporated in 1975 – has grown along with its population, adding educational facilities such as …

	State’s Health Care Affordability Board Tells CHOMP and SVH to Limit Future Spending Even Further.
	The health care landscape in Monterey County could look different in the next few years, after the state’s Office of Health Care Affordability board voted 5-0 on Tuesday, April 22, to label Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas …

	Soledad Hosts ‘Real World Survival Guide,’ Equips Local Youth With Life and Career Skills
	More than 100 local youth gathered at the Soledad Community Center on April 12 for “The Real World Survival Guide (The Things They Don’t Teach You in School),” an interactive event hosted by the Soledad Parks and Recreation Department.

	Housing Authority of Monterey County Outlines Major Achievements and Future Plans
	The Housing Authority of the County of Monterey presented its 2022-24 Progress Report to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on March 11, showcasing key achievements, organizational growth and upcoming initiatives aimed at tackling the region’s housing challenges.

Recent Local News

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● Panetta Authors Monterey Bay Protection Legislation

Representative Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, has authored and introduced the California Conservation Act of 2025 which would prohibit new oil extraction activity in the Central California Planning Area. Read more.

(04/29/2025) Monterey Herald

● Del Rey Oaks Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway Update

Work on the Canyon Del Rey Segment of the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway project continues in Del Rey Oaks. Read more.

(04/28/2025) Monterey Herald

● Monterey Peninsula Foundation Funds Homeless Youth Support

The Monterey Peninsula Foundation has awarded a grant of $60,000 to local nonprofit Community Human Services to fund two programs helping homeless youth. Read more.

(04/25/2025) Monterey Herald

● Youth Encouraged to Apply for Young Supervisors Program

Local high school and first-year college students are encouraged to apply for the Monterey County Young Supervisors Program, which focuses on developing leadership skills and civic participation. Read more.

(04/24/2025) Monterey Herald

● Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Opening of Seagrove Apartments

A ribbon cutting ceremony on April 24 celebrated the opening of the 106-unit Seagrove apartment complex near downtown Seaside. Read more.

(04/24/2025) Monterey Herald

● SPCA Monterey County Rescues Pelicans

Responding to reports of distressed penguins in unusual locations, staff and volunteers with the SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center have so far rescued 16 birds since April 11. Read more.

(04/24/2025) Monterey Herald

● Changes Coming to Sand City we.Mural Festival

Discussions are underway to evolve the 2025 we.Mural Festival in Sand City. Read more.

(04/23/2025) Monterey Herald

Recent Statewide News

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● Welcome to the First Fire-Resistant Neighborhood. Now What About the Rest of California?

Dixon Trail is the first purpose-built “wildfire resilient neighborhood” in the United States. Making that a reality for the millions of Californians who already live in harm’s way is a daunting and costly challenge that lawmakers are only just beginning to grapple with. Read more.

(04/29/2025) CalMatters

● Judge Restricts Border Patrol in California: ‘You Just Can’t Walk Up to People With Brown Skin’

‘You just can’t walk up to people with brown skin and say give me your papers,’ a federal judge told Border Patrol attorneys at a hearing challenging recent immigration sweeps. Read more.

(04/29/2025) CalMatters

● California Sent Investigators to ICE Facilities. They Found More Detainees, and Health Care Gaps

A California law empowers state investigators to check on conditions at ICE detention centers. A new report raises concerns about health care inside them. Read more.

(04/29/2025) CalMatters

● California Rolls Out Pesticide "Spray Days" Alerts

Residents living near farms can now sign up to be alerted when pesticides will be applied by the a new system recently launched by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Read more.

(04/28/2025) Monterey Herald

● Trump Cuts Millions in California Crime Prevention Grants: ‘This Was a Sledgehammer’

Groups that support California crime victims and attempt to reduce gun violence lost millions of dollars in grants when the Trump administration pulled funding. Read more.

(04/28/2025) CalMatters

● Legislator Introduces Bill to Prohibit Offshore Drilling Along Central, Bay Area Coast

A new bill in Congress proposes banning new offshore fossil fuel drilling along the coast from Monterey to Mendocino County, U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, said this week. The Central Coast of California Conservation Act would prohibit new exploration, development or production leases for natural gas or oil along the Central Coast, and a portion of the North Coast. Read more.

(04/27/2025) Local News Matters

● How the State Sent Californians’ Personal Health Data to LinkedIn

The state’s health insurance exchange transmitted pregnancy and domestic abuse data during a marketing campaign. It is reviewing its website practices. Read more.

(04/27/2025) CalMatters

● They Feared a Loved One in a Psychotic Moment. Why California Police Wouldn’t Come

Police agencies — under scrutiny and worried about their own liability — increasingly won’t respond to someone in a mental health crisis unless that person is committing a crime. So who will transport people in psychosis to get help? And who will keep those around them safe? Read more.

(04/27/2025) CalMatters

● Fraud in California Community Colleges Triggers Call for Trump Investigation

Following CalMatters reporting, California’s Republican representatives are calling for the U.S. Department of Education and Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate how California’s community colleges are handling financial aid fraud. Read more.

(04/24/2025) CalMatters

● California Railroads: Unions Push to Shorten Trains, but Companies Warn of Higher Costs

Unions are pushing for shorter freight trains to make railways safer, but that could raise the cost of goods and delay passenger rail service. It also may not be legal. Read more.

(04/24/2025) CalMatters

● Biden Let California Get Creative With Medicaid Spending. Trump Is Signaling That May End

California uses Medicaid to pay for a range of nontraditional health care services, including housing. The Trump administration wants to scale back those programs. Read more.

(04/24/2025) CalMatters

● Algae Bloom Killing Animals in California Waters

A huge algae bloom is responsible for the deaths of sea lions, pelicans and whales off the California coast. Read more.

(04/24/2025) The Sacramento Bee

● Cal Fire Unveils New Aircraft

In an April 24 press conference. CalFire unveiled the latest addition to their fleet of firefighting aircraft, a new C-130 Hercules. Read more.

(04/24/2025) The Mercury News

● California is World's Fourth-Largest Economy

The California economy continues to grow, now ranking as the fourth-largest on the planet. Read more.

(04/23/2025) Los Angeles Times

● Real ID Deadline Is May 7

You need a Real ID to fly, and the deadline to get one in California is May 7. Read more.

(04/23/2025) Los Angeles Times

● CalFire Releases Interactive Urban Tree Canopy Mapping Tool

A new online urban tree canopy mapping tool for California has been released by CalFire. Read more.

(04/23/2025) YubaNet

● Abundance Meets Resistance: Are Democrats Finally Ready to Go All in on Building Housing?

California Senate Housing Committee Chair Aisha Wahab is a staunch progressive who is clashing with pro-development activists and other Democrats who want to build more, faster. Read more.

(04/22/2025) CalMatters

● How Trump Tariffs Could Upend California Farms, Wine Businesses and Ports

From higher costs to export worries, California’s agricultural and wine industries face many possible tariff effects. But some hope for opportunity. Read more.

(04/22/2025) CalMatters

● UC Has Been Enrolling More in-State Students. Proposed State Cuts May Halt That Growth

The UC has grown its enrollment of California undergraduates by 16,000 in the last five years. University officials say they won’t be able to continue that growth if state funding is cut. Read more.

(04/22/2025) CalMatters

Government Announcements

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	United States (04/28/2025) Food Co. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Monkfish Liver - Ankimo
JJWV Marketing Corporation of Santa Fe Springs, California is recalling Ankimo Monkfish Liver because it may contain undeclared milk. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

	United States (04/28/2025) Trader Joe's Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon Voluntarily Recalled Due to Undeclared Milk Allergen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 28, 2025 - A limited quantity of Trader Joe's Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon is voluntarily being recalled because the topping packet may potentially contain an undeclared milk allergen. The product may contain milk that is not declared on the label. 500 units of the sal

	State of California (04/28/2025) Dawn Addis CA Assembly 30: Sen. Menjivar & Asm. Addis Hold Presser on Climate Superfund Act Targeting Corporate Polluters
Sen. Menjivar & Asm. Addis Hold Presser on Climate Superfund Act Targeting Corporate Polluters sanchema Mon, 04/28/2025 - 09:49 Tuesday, April 29, 2025

	United States (04/25/2025) Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company, LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almonds and Cashews in Mauna Loa Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamias (0.6OZ and 4OZ)
Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company LLC of Kea'au, HI is voluntarily recalling Mauna Loa Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamias (0.6oz and 4oz bags), due to the possible presence of undeclared almonds and cashews.

	United States (04/25/2025) My Life Inc Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in ML Natural Premium Quality Lactoferrin as Apolactoferrin
April 25, 2025, My Life Inc. of Federal Way, WA is recalling approximately 65 bottles of ML Naturals Premium Quality Lactoferrin as Apolactoferrin 300mg. capsules dietary supplement, lot FL2407511L19, expiration date 10/2027, because it may contain undeclared milk. People who have an allergy or seve

	City of Seaside (04/25/2025) Sunday Blues In The Park
City of Seaside Presents the 38th Annual Sunday Blues In The Park, starting July 13th through August 10th, 1- 4:30 pm in Laguna Grande Park

City of Monterey (04/25/2025)

Armed Robbery Arrest

	United States (04/24/2025) New England Village Foods Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almonds in "19th Hole Snack Mix"
New England Village Foods of Milford NH is recalling all lots of 5 -ounce and 10 -ounce containers of New England Village Snacks "19th Hole Snack Mix" because they may contain undeclared almonds. People who have allergies to almonds run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if th

	City of Seaside (04/23/2025) MPUSD Facilities Master Planning Community Nights
Help shape the future of our schools! Join MPUSD for our Facilities Master Planning Community Nights to learn about facility needs, share your feedback, and explore what's next.

State of California (04/23/2025)

Robert Rivas CA Assembly 29:
Speaker Robert Rivas Announces New Assembly Actions Targeting Biggest Cost Drivers for Californians

Speaker Robert Rivas Announces New Assembly Actions Targeting Biggest Cost Drivers for Californians vincelty Wed, 04/23/2025 - 16:37 Housing, child care, groceries, and transportation have the largest impact on spending for households. The Speaker is announcing new Assembly committees and priority legislation to protect families and improve affordability. Title Press Secretary Email Cynthia.Moreno@asm.ca.gov Phone 916-319-2029 Wednesday, April 23, 2025 SACRAMENTOIn …

The News: April 28, 2025

Recipe of the Week

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