View in Browser Our Journalism Needs Your Support Please Donate Today
California Local Logo
Graphic which spells out The Newsletter.


By Eric Johnson
Published May 22, 2023

CALocal Wins Two Big Journo Awards

You probably know that The Newsletter goes out only to California Local members and subscribers—folks like yourself who’ve signed up to join our family and support our work. Today I am writing to bring the good news that we have just been given two big awards by the California News Publishers Association (CNPA). 

We learned Thursday morning that our Santa Cruz Rail Trail ‘Tracker’ won a Third Place award for Public Interest Journalism. This is a category that many people in our industry care the most deeply about, because it involves having a real and demonstrable impact in our community—and as you are no doubt aware, that’s why we are in this game to begin with.

The  award-winning “Tracker,” by the way, is a news product devised by our co-founder Chris Neklason, who defines it like so: “Article that acts as a portal for information about an ongoing process, tracking it and adding and updating information over time.” And here’s what the CNPA judges said about this one.

One-stop shopping for readers interested in this local issue. A model for presenting comprehensive information on a subject of public interest—a contentious one—from all kinds of angles and all kinds of sources. Allows readers to access journalism as well as primary sources, a nod to the “do your own research” approach. All of it is in easily digested writing and images. Informative and inviting through expert use of media.

We are deeply honored that our industry peers have given us this recognition. Speaking of which.

California Local Wins First Place CNPA Award for Story Presentation Page Layout & Design

My friend and colleague Chris has thought long and hard about the best ways to present news and information in a way that helps keep people engaged; NewsOS, our Content Management System, is a result of years of his work toward that end. Kara Brown, our designer, has decades in the biz, and is committed to creating a user experience that inspires feelings of delight. Apparently their collaboration is golden.

I am pleased as punch to tell you that we have been named the best-looking journalism website (in our 100,000 uniques-per-month division) in the state of California. And here, “best-looking,” as in all online endeavors, includes functionality. 

We are fiercely committed to creating something good in the online world—by bringing you news you can trust and helping you stay connected. 

As you will see below, there is more on its way.


New Feature: Find Your Reps

Our work is guided in part by our motto: “We make it easy to citizen.” (I hope I don’t need to remind you that “citizen” is a verb.) This week we made it even easier by rolling out a new feature that puts your local elected officials one click away. Here’s how that works, and some tips on effective civic communications.


Conveniently Contacting Your Elected Representatives

Time to step up and speak out.
We've made it one-click convenient for members to contact their elected representatives.

Tips on Contacting Your Elected Representatives

Your elected representatives want to hear from you.
Voting is just the beginning. Stay connected with your representatives to make sure your government is working for you.

Longtime Public Official Talks to Local Leaders

Politics is the family business for Ryan Coonerty, and after years serving as an elected official in Santa Cruz, he is hosting a podcast focused on local electeds.


An Interview With Ryan Coonerty

Then-Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty speaks at a TEDx event in 2020. “As a local official, every day I get to wake up and try to take action to make our community a little bit better place.”
On the Santa Cruz City Council, then as mayor, and then as county supervisor, Ryan Coonerty learned to love politics.


Impact Report Image for decorative use


California Local logo

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!


Get to Know a Group

Community Emergency Response Volunteers logo Community Emergency Response Volunteers

Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula's mission is “to support local CERT programs, build public awareness about emergency preparedness, and promote the community's capacity to respond to natural disasters and man-made emergencies.”

→ Learn more

California Media Alliance logo

From Our Media Allies

→ View All
Monterey County Weekly logo After Four Months in the Job, Gonzales City Manager Resigns

The city of Gonzales announced on May 19 that it was Trevin Barber’s last day as city manager.

King City Rustler logo King City Woman Who Killed Teen in 2013 Granted Parole

Angela Zuniga was 21 years old at the time of the commission of the murder of 14-year-old Ricardo Ruiz.

Monterey County Weekly logo Lights On! Program Will Reduce Non-Public Safety Tickets

In Seaside, about 50 tickets are written for broken tail lights or headlights each year. The Lights On! program aims to reduce this number.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo Soledad Community to Decide Funding for Safe Routes to School Projects

Transportation Agency for Monterey County announced that Soledad residents and workers will have the opportunity to vote on which projects to fund.

King City Rustler logo King City Welcomes New Police Leadership Team

Former police chiefs of King City’s past gathered with new Chief of Police James Hunt during his swearing-in ceremony May 9.

Monterey County Weekly logo Authorities Discover Over 200 People Living in Unpermitted Housing

An illegal convergence of greenhouses, agricultural properties and homes are all mixed together in the unincorporated North County community of Royal Oaks.

Monterey County Weekly logo After 122 Years, King City’s Casey Printing Is Under New Ownership

Casey Printing—the family-run commercial printer which operates one of the last publication-style printing presses on the Central Coast—has been sold and will continue to operate under new ownership.

Monterey County Weekly logo Salinas City Council Votes Ananimously to Repeal Cruising Ban

With applause and cheers, dozens of people celebrated the unanimous vote on May 16 to repeal a prohibition on cruising on city streets.

Monterey County Weekly logo Chef Cal Stamenov in as Executive Chef at Cella Restaurant

The prominent local chef comes most recently from Grasing’s in Carmel; before that, he spent 22 years at Bernardus Lodge and Spa.

  California Local Pin Marker  

Recent Local News

→ View All

• Young Californians are Having Less Sex Than Their Parents

Young adults are not behaving like their parents: They are not drinking as much, they are facing more mental health challenges, and they are living with their parents longer. On top of that, computer games and social media have become a sort of stand-in for physical relationships.

(05/19/2023) → Monterey Herald

• Southern Big Sur Coast Is About to Reopen

Access to popular spots on the southern Big Sur coast will be restored next week when Caltrans reopens a key stretch of Highway 1, just in time for Memorial Day holiday weekend travel.

(05/19/2023) → Monterey Herald

• Problems at Your Mobile Home Park?

California officials depend largely on residents filing complaints to find out about health and safety problems at mobile home parks. Here’s how to file a complaint.

(05/18/2023) → CalMatters

• Pajaro: Past. Present. Future.

The Pajaro flood on March 11 was not the first time the river broke through the levee. The news team of KSBW 8 investigates the current crisis and past problems in the small agriculture community.

(05/18/2023) → Read the full KSBW NBC/ABC report

• Emergency Avian Flu Vaccine Authorized for California Condors

California condors will receive a vaccine for a deadly strain of avian influenza that threatens the already critically endangered vulture species. More than a dozen condors recently died from the bird flu.

(05/17/2023) → Monterey Herald

• Overgrown Weeds at Palo Corona Spark Concerns

The Palo Corona Regional Park, Rancho Cañada Unit, is a former golf course that has been transforming back into a natural setting. With that change, native species of plants are making a comeback. But after an especially wet winter, so are the weeds.

(05/15/2023) → Monterey Herald
  California Local Pin Marker  

Recent Statewide News

→ View All

• Which Big California Bills Were Shelved in ‘Suspense File’?

In their twice-a-year exercise, legislators killed hundreds of California bills in the process known as the suspense file. They included ones on abortion access, climate and homelessness. The state budget deficit also made an impact.

(05/18/2023) → CalMatters
  California Local Pin Marker  

Government Announcements

→ View All
Image of City of Pacific Grove seal. City of Pacific Grove   (05/15/2023)

Business Needs Survey

Image of City of Pacific Grove seal. City of Pacific Grove   (05/10/2023)

Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Image of City of Pacific Grove seal. City of Pacific Grove   (05/04/2023)

Rescheduled City Council Meetings

Image of City of Gonzales seal. City of Gonzales   (05/01/2023)

Community Opinion Survey on Housing

Image of City of Pacific Grove seal. City of Pacific Grove   (03/03/2023)

Community Meeting - AB 481 Military Equipment Annual Report

Image of City of Pacific Grove seal. City of Pacific Grove   (02/02/2023)

Financial Transparency Center

Image of City of Pacific Grove seal. City of Pacific Grove   (01/20/2023)

Disaster Loans Available from SBA

Image of City of Pacific Grove seal. City of Pacific Grove   (01/04/2023)

Helpful Storm Event Links & Resources!

Image of City of Gonzales seal. City of Gonzales   (12/01/2022)

2022 California Building Code

Image of City of Pacific Grove seal. City of Pacific Grove   (11/29/2022)

Updated ADU Guidance