Monterey County Business, Economy & Jobs Digest

Women continue to make up the majority of low-wage workers in the Golden State, while roughly half of all Latino, Black and Native American workers earned $32,329 or less in 2021.

The company has debuted its planetary headquarters in the heart of historic downtown Monterey, in the former Bull & Bear.

Joby Aviation has been mulling a decision of where to build its new manufacturing plant, and according to a story in TechCrunch, Marina is no longer in contention for the coveted facility.

Many farmworkers in Coachella Valley lack legal status as citizens and don't qualify for most federal and state disaster aid. Even a new $95 million storm assistance program for immigrants that Governor Gavin Newsom recently touted is out of reach because it pertains to the winter and spring storms and floods.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has closed two state prisons and he has plans to shut two more by 2025. A new contract for correctional officers offers new perks to the guards who stay.

Bean-to-bar chocolate maker Stephen Beaumier has just successfully completed an initial round of funding and taken on a new partner in preparation for ramping up production, opening retail shops and eventually taking his White Label Chocolate brand national.

The federal student loan payment pause is coming to an end. Here’s how to get ready to make payments again.

The little deli by the trestle bridge in Capitola was inspired by a big-hearted white lab, says chef-owner Anthony Kresge. And now it’s set to close toward the end of September.

While the Carmel Unified School District searches for its next superintendent, Sharon Ofek will serve as the interim superintendent, the board announced last week.

Having successfully triumphed over the rigors of opening the newly remodeled garden patio at Monterey’s Estéban Restaurant during Car Week, newly appointed executive chef Ben Hillan is busy tuning up the tapas menu.

With only 12,000 hydrogen cars on the road, and just two models for sale, California lawmakers are debating how much state money should support them.

San Francisco isn’t going to take last week’s robotaxi decision by the California Public Utilities Commission lying down. Joined by the city's transit authority board, fire department and board of supervisors, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed motions on Wednesday to halt the unrestricted expansion of autonomous vehicles for commercial use.

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants counties to spend some revenue from California’s so-called “millionaire’s tax” on the state’s homeless crisis. That alarms advocates for programs that are getting that money today.

Located near the Santa Cruz Wharf, Namaste Bar & Grill represents the newest—and most creative—member of the Namaste Indian food family, which extends from Palo Alto to Monterey.

Gov. Gavin Newsom promised $95 million would help undocumented workers rebuild after winter storms and floods. Months later, $18 million is being doled out and there are translation issues with the state’s website.

Family-owned Scotts Valley microbrewery Steel Bonnet Brewing Company is set for take off. Owners Sue and Donald Cramb have just launched a production brewery in Salinas that will allow them to brew ten times more of their malt-forward beers and ales.

In 2021, 109,480 Californians filed federal returns with million-dollar incomes—No. 1 among the states and 18 percent of the US total.

Many local governments see voter majorities approve bond measures without reaching the two-thirds required. A new effort to reform that system would drastically improve the ability of local governments to fund housing and infrastructure projects.

A deserving darling of Monterey Bay craft beer lovers, Humble Sea just announced the shuttering of its Humble Sea Tavern in Felton.

How bad is California hunger? A lot depends on your access to food aid, which expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic but is being reduced.

The Biden administration’s app rule makes it harder for migrants to assert a right to asylum, advocates say. Lawsuits are sparking debate about immigration control, safety.

Local governments account for about 10 percent of total spending on lobbying state lawmakers and agencies. Often, they’re seeking state money. Sometimes, they’re trying to get a say on specific bills.

This year we celebrate the founding of the Arroyo Seco AVA—granted status on April 15, 1983—making it one of the earliest to be established of California’s over 100 such designations.

Frustration runs deep among medical cannabis patients and advocates who say the commercial market created by Proposition 64 in 2016 isn’t meeting their needs.

Some hospitals in Southern California have a nurse vacancy rate of 30 percent, stressing overworked staff and causing some to leave the industry earlier than they planned.

The iconic California burger joint known for its crossed palm trees and cups printed with Bible verses banned its employees in five states from wearing masks at work.

Despite efforts by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to shelter more than 14,000 people this year, the city's homeless population keeps growing. That does not necessarily mean her signature program is failing. The larger question: How does California measure success?

A new restaurant that’s about to open in Aptos, Cavalletta is the second restaurant for chef Nick Sherman, who also owns Trestles in Capitola.

It takes lots of water and energy to keep densely packed computer servers for these systems cool and running smoothly.

Thousands of Californians died from opioid overdoses in 2021. In response, many communities are making it easier to obtain life-saving overdose reversal drugs while some families are calling for tougher criminal penalties for fentanyl dealers.

Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, has led a coalition to reduce barriers that producers face in accessing agricultural conservation programs that would help farmers deal with the impacts of climate change.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state will spend $4.5 million on free legal services for undocumented workers involved in state investigations of wage theft or other labor violations. The lawyers can help with their immigration cases.