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Monterey County History Articles



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Publishing in Paradise

Based in California’s most iconic vacation spot, Katherine Hill celebrates Tahoe Guide’s 42nd birthday.

Image caption: The 1965 law known as the Williamson Act has been responsible for keeping about half of California's farmland out of the hands of developers.
The Williamson Act: How the Law That Protects California’s Farmland Works

The Williamson Act, passed in 1965, now keeps more than 16 million acres of farmland out of the hands of developers. Here's how the law puts the brakes on the development of California agricultural properties.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Monterey mourns the loss of its "champion," former mayor Peter Coniglio.

Peter Coniglio described himself as a "Monterey guy," and he was, with deep roots that run back to his Italian immigrant grandfather who came to Monterey and found success as a fisherman and founder off the first cannery. Coniglio branched…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Starting today, First Theatre in Monterey will open for public tours.

The First Theatre in downtown Monterey, hosted California's first-ever paid theatrical production in 1848, but wasn't regularly used for that purpose until 1937.

Image caption: The Baldwin Hills area in South Los Angeles is one region where a state conservancy would keep open land accessible to the public.
California’s 10 State Conservancies: How They Protect Parks and Open Land

How California’s 10 state conservancies buy up open land and shield it from developers to preserve the natural environment for public use.

Image caption: The version of Mickey Mouse seen in the 1928 animated short “Steamboat Willie” is now free for public use.
Mickey Mouse Enters Public Domain. What That Means for California

Disney icon Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain, meaning anyone can create their own Mickey Mouse cartoons. Here’s what that means, and how it could affect the California economy.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
The Carmel City Council puts the brakes on a property tax break for a wealthy landowner.

In 1945 a widow named Della Walker, known formally as Mrs. Clinton Walker, wrote a short letter to Frank Lloyd Wright, in hopes the famed architect would design a home for her in Carmel. “I own a rocky point of…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
As we bid 2023 adieu, a look back at the year in news in Monterey County.

Sara Rubin here, thinking about how we mark transitions in time—new months, years, decades. So often, in our fast-paced world, the obvious thing to do is to look forward; there are plans to make and deadlines to meet. In the…

Image caption: Kevin McCarthy's hand-picked potential successor, Assemblymember Vince Fong, had previously been ruled out of the race.
Judge Says Vince Fong May Run for Kevin McCarthy's House Seat

A judge rules that the Bakersfield Republican is eligible to run in the 2024 election for Congress even though he had already filed to run for his state Assembly seat.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Pacific Grove mulls a request to build a pavilion to honor the history of Chinese Americans.

Almost two years ago Pacific Grove officially said goodbye to the Feast of Lanterns, the town’s troubled faux Chinese pageant, beloved by some residents but deemed racist by others. After members of the Chinese American community and allies came forward…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Cities pause a ’70s-era program that gives tax breaks to historic building owners.

It seemed like a good idea in 1972 when the California Legislature passed the Mills Act, a voluntary program designed to save crumbling historic buildings from ruin by allowing cities and counties to give tax breaks to property owners with…

Image caption: California’s homelessness crisis shows no signs of improving, despite significant new measures to fight the problem.
The State of California’s Homelessness Crisis, Updated for 2023

California's homelessness numbers continue to rise despite new spending on housing, services. Here's where the fight to end the crisis stands. This story has been updated for 2022 and 2023.

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California Music Docs

Tune in, turn on, and drop into these California-focused documentaries—only some of which are about the ’60s San Francisco sound.

Image caption: Translated from the Greek, “Democracy” means “people power.” How much power do the people have in California?
People Power! What Is Democracy, and How Does It Work in California?

Democracy is a 2,500-year-old system of government still looked on today as the best system, because under a democratic system, the people govern themselves. But is that all there is to it? What is democracy? And how does it work …

Image caption: Californians continue to set clocks back every fall, and ahead each spring.
Daylight Saving Time, Explained

After a 2018 vote authorizing the state legislature to make daylight saving time year-round, Californians are still changing their clocks twice per year. How did we get here?

Image caption: Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled affirmative action policies unconstitutional, some students are recosidering their college choices.
Affirmative Action: How SCOTUS Decision Changes College Admissions

After the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in college admissions, some students are rethinking their school selections. Some colleges are also boosting their student outreach as they seek diversity.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Long-time community and labor activist Gary Karnes dies at 76.

Gary Karnes got his start in politics at age 13, walking precincts to advocate for John F. Kennedy as president. He never stopped.

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