Monterey County Local News

On November 21st, 2024, Congress passed the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, aka HR 9495. If signed into law, the bill would hand huge powers to the Trump administration to declare any nonprofit they dislike to be a "terrorist-supporting" organization and strip them of their nonprofit status without having to share the evidence as to why this designation was given in the first place.
Democrats, including Monterey Bay area Congressional Representative Jimmy Panetta, voted for it against stiff opposition from local nonprofit leaders and activists who lobbied hard and whittled down the number of Democratic votes from 72 on a previous vote to 15.
In this interview, we hear from local activist, Rick Longinotti, Lead Counsel for the ACLU, Kia Hamadanchy, and Eric Gorovitz, attorney at Adler and Colvin law firm in San Francisco, and author of the blog, A&C Nonprofit News.
Slate Article
Jimmy Panetta's Letter Explaining his VoteCongressman Panetta Response

Erik Chalhoub here. I’ve got to be short today. Shoot, I’ve already taken up too many words.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday, Nov. 21 to pass a controversial bill with provisions empowering the U.S. Treasury Secretary to take action to revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofits that are believed to be providing material support…

Rain is a-coming to the Central Coast tomorrow and through the weekend, with varying rainfall totals throughout Monterey County from 1 to 3 inches.

A Just Transition for All:
Workers and Communities for a Carbon-Free Future
with Dr. J. Mijin Cha

 Sustainability Now! Sunday, November 24, 2024, 5-6 PM
 
To avert the worst impacts of climate change, a transition away from fossil fuels is necessary. However, what this transition looks like and what would make a transition “just,” remain open questions. What workers are missing from “green” economy discussions? What role do workers play in the fight for a future without fossil fuels? How can workers and communities ensure the transition is “just”?
Join host Ronnie Lipschutz for a conversation with UCSC Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies J. Mijin Cha, whose new book, A Just Transition for All, will be published by MIT Press in December. Her research examines the intersection of inequality and the climate crisis in which the energy transition is leveraged to advance a more just future.
That’s on Sustainability Now!, Sunday, November 24, 2024, from 5-6 PM right here on community radio for the Monterey Bay Region, KSQD 90.7 FM, KSQT 87.9 FM, K207FE (FX) 89.5 and KSQD.org, streaming on the internet.

GONZALES — Students at Fairview Middle School in Gonzales hosted a Veterans Day assembly on Nov. 6 to honor local veterans, marking the return of an annual tradition for the Gonzales Unified School District (GUSD).

KING CITY — City of King hosted its final community walk of the year last month, with officials announcing that the weekly group activity would return next summer.

Steve Pleich talks about the best and worst of times.

Four years ago, Liz and Kelvin Jacobs of Wild Fish restaurant in Pacific Grove were leaders in the early days of the pandemic, investing $50,000 in construction of a sturdy parklet with wind protection and heaters for chilly days, built…

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

For years, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve has been burdened by overtourism. The 150 parking spaces inside the reserve fill up quickly, and many drivers are turned away, so visitors try to find a place to park on Highway 1.

The Santa Lucia Mountains are deceptively rugged. Between Carmel Valley Road to the north and Highway 46 to the south, in San Luis Obispo County, there is just one east-west paved road that connects the coast to the Highway 101…

On Friday, Nov. 15, as the sun set on a crisp evening, farmworkers, teachers and members of Californians for Pesticide Reform assembled in front of CineLux Green Valley in Watsonville holding signs, gathering in protest about a controversial pesticide that…

The glamour of flashy cars and high speeds in Fast & Furious don’t translate the same way in real life. A sideshow – or illegal street racing – can be exhilarating for some, but can also be dangerous. Sideshows can…

After 13 years of planning and building, the Hester Marsh Restoration Project had its unofficial “ribbon-cutting” moment over the weekend of Nov. 15-17. Project researchers, managers and volunteers gathered at the marsh on the edge of Elkhorn Slough to observe…

FREE SPEECHThe conspiracy theory website Infowars could become a parody of itself if a judge agrees on a sale. Satirical news outlet The Onion was announced as the winning bidder for the website on Nov. 14, with plans to parody…

According to his bio, Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth—an “author, speaker, fighter”—is a “husband, father, patriot and a Christian.” He is also a host on Fox and an Army veteran. He is now gaining national attention for his possible…

Sara Rubin here, thinking about some what-ifs. Given the extreme promises President-elect Donald Trump has made, it’s easy to take these into some pretty extreme scenarios. It’s also easy to take them into some less-extreme scenarios, especially if Congress grants…

MONTEREY COUNTY — Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) is collaborating with California 2-1-1 providers across its coverage area, including United Way Monterey County, to offer customers critical services during times of disaster.