Monterey County Families & Children Articles

Celia Jiménez here, thinking about how much a simple facilities upgrade can mean. Specifically, in the case of Blas Santana Park in Soledad, new lights were on over the sports field for the first time last week.

More than 30 states require insurers to provide some level of coverage for kids’ hearing aids. California isn’t one of them, and Gov. Newsom for the second time has vetoed a bill to close that gap.

This episode of Talk of the Bay included Megan Whilden, Development Director for Community Human Services who spoke about the overwhelming response the organization has had to the opening of 35 new shelter beds for women and their children. Monterey’s …

States across the United States are banning the practice of billing kids for the cost of their foster care. Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar effort in California, citing costs to the state.

SOLEDAD — A little bit of old was transformed on the inside as Soledad Unified School District’s (SUSD) former Main Street Middle School Library reopened its doors as the Soledad Family Resource Center, following a ribbon cutting and celebration Saturday …

More workers are filing claims with the state alleging employers are retaliating against them for engaging in legally protected activities, such as seeking overtime pay or reporting wage theft or discrimination.

Under a system that has long prioritized local control for school districts. state officials now are fighting some recent board decisions regarding LGBTQ students.

Renter protections and eviction bans put in place for the COVID-19 pandemic have expired. By keeping them in place, California could slow the spread of homelessness. But that's not happening.

California grants school boards much local control, but recent events have pushed the state to take steps to stop local school board meetings from turning into potentially dangerous culture war battlegrounds.

Barbie is the most famous California-born toy. But there are other iconic playthings that were created or brought to market here.

Here's how the iconic Barbie doll and its manufacturer, toy giant Mattel, built an industry in Southern California that pours billions into the state’s economy.

SALINAS VALLEY — Sun Street Centers recently celebrated the completion of its Darlene Acosta Youth Center in King City with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and an open house. The June 28 celebration marked the final construction phase of Sun Street’s King …

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County AmeriCorps will receive $920,000 in federal funding for literacy programs in the Alisal Union, Chualar Union, King City Union and Monterey Peninsula Unified school districts. “All students deserve a high-quality education, and this funding will …

Celia Jiménez here, thinking about how vital internet access is in our everyday lives, from searching for basic information to getting directions to reading the news to entertainment.

You have to be 18 to get divorced in California, but there’s no minimum age to get married. Child marriage survivors protested at the state Capitol, but the Legislature likely won’t act until next year.

State lawmakers want to loosen CalWORKs job requirements so people keep cash benefits. Congress’ debt limit deal could curb that.

SALINAS VALLEY — Once again the Salinas Valley Fair drew thousands of people to South Monterey County for a long weekend of family-friendly activities and entertainment, including its first-ever huge concert headlined by multiplatinum country singer Dylan Scott on Saturday …

SOLEDAD — Youth in Monterey County Friday Night Live (FNL) have launched a campaign this year to tackle underage drinking throughout the region, including in Soledad. Friday Night Live builds partnerships for positive and healthy development, engaging youth as active …

SALINAS VALLEY — Migrant students from Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield and King City high schools recently participated in a three-day adventure in citizen science through the Watershed Guardians project, sponsored by the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. The Watershed Guardians …

Pam Marino here, marveling at what a sense of purpose can do for people. In the case of residents and clients of Gateway Center in Pacific Grove—a nonprofit organization that cares for and educates adults with developmental disabilities—a sense of…