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News in Monterey, CA

Church News · Monterey, CA

Retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel shares lessons from the military as a Latter-day Saint

While a battalion commander during a tour in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, now-retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Jason S.D. Perry led a big operation with a lot of fighting. Afterward, he had the heavy job of writing condolence letters to mothers and fathers of those who had died in the line of duty. His second-in-command came into his office to tell him an unexpected helicopter was inbound and someone on the helicopter was looking for him. It was a chaplain from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who had flown to the forward operating base in the middle of Musa Qala in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, “just to say hi to me,” Perry said on the Church News podcast. Perry said it was not easy to get to where he was and rather dangerous. “And yet he came out looking for me. On that day, I was the one.” They spent two hours together, and he was able to take the sacrament again.

Pacific Sun · Monterey, CA

Fire on the Water: One Diver Fights for Local Kelp Forests

This article contains a hard truth. And hope… And now, here’s the news: Within two years (dating back to 2014), 70% of our orange-brown kelp forests died along a 520-mile stretch of coast, from Monterey, California, to Cape Arago in southern Oregon. Closer in—along the continuous coastal counties of Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino—95% of the […]

East Bay Express · Monterey, CA

Volunteers fight to restore California’s dying kelp forests

This article contains a hard truth. And hope. And now, here’s the news: Within two years—dating back to 2014—70% of our orange-brown kelp forests died along a 520-mile stretch of coast, from Monterey, California, to Cape Arago in southern Oregon. Closer in—along the continuous coastal counties of Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino—95% of the bull kelp […]

The Catalyst · Monterey, CA

Switchbacks Weekly: Playoffs Secured

The Colorado Springs Switchbacks of the United Soccer League (USL) Championship closed out their regular season with a pair of wins against bottom-dwelling Monterey Bay FC and fellow playoff side FC Tulsa to secure their spot in the 2026 postseason. In Monterey, CA, the Switchbacks squeaked out a 1-0 win courtesy of longtime fan favorite Juan Tejada, who scored the only goal. This win clinched the Switchbacks’ playoff spot, though due to other results going into the final day, Colorado Springs needed to win and Lexington SC to lose in order to secure a home playoff game. The Switchbacks held up their end of the bargain in a revenge game, as FC Tulsa knocked them out of the playoffs last season. An early penalty conversion from striker Khori Bennett, his 15th of the season, had the hosts up 1-0. Unfortunately for the Switchbacks, a second yellow card for Patrick Burner in first-half stoppage time meant that they had to defend their lead for the second half.

San Jose Inside · Monterey, CA

Trump Administration’s Latest CA Targets Are Palo Alto, SF, North Monterey School Districts | San Jose Inside

Palo Alto, San Francisco and North Monterey school districts are the target of new investigations by the U.S. Department of Education, for allegedly violating federal parental rights laws. The Education Department this week announced that its “Student Privacy Policy Office” has begun investigations into the Palo Alto Unified School District, San Francisco Unified School District and North Monterey County Unified School District for allegedly “requiring students to reveal intimate details about themselves and their families without parental consent or knowledge.” The investigations, according to federal officials, will determine whether the school districts violated the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, which requires schools to notify parents and obtain their written consent before surveying students on topics that would reveal protected information. Education officials warned that failure to comply could jeopardize federal funds of school programs.

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New Hampshire Bulletin · Watsonville, CA

Nearby: Watsonville, CA

States are counting on battery farms. Some towns don’t want them.

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. — In the race to meet the nation’s growing power demands, states and utilities are rapidly building new “battery farms” that can store energy for when customers need it most. But as the facilities grow, so too does community opposition. The systems store banks of batteries in buildings or shipping containers. While they can take many forms, developers are increasingly building large, multi-acre projects designed to meet the needs of local utilities. The electricity stored by such systems nationwide has grown tenfold since 2022, and it’s projected to double again by the end of 2028. State lawmakers and renewable energy advocates say battery storage is urgently needed to stabilize the grid and support the transition to clean power. But in some communities, residents are wary of proposals to build industrial battery systems in their neighborhoods, noting that battery fires can produce toxic smoke and are difficult to extinguish.

Calaveras Enterprise · Aptos, CA

Nearby: Aptos, CA

Barbara Dee Boeding Capitanich

Barbara Dee Boeding Capitanich, age 80, passed away peacefully on October 8, 2026. Barbara was born on March 3, 1946, in Eugene, Oregon, to Iris Barbara Owen and Glen Howard Owen. Throughout her life, she was known for her strength, kindness, independence, and deep love for family, friends, and animals. Barbara was married to Ken Capitanich in Aptos, CA. She was a wonderful mother to her three children, Wendee Christine Woodson, Brandee Christine Vietz, and Weston Christopher Boeding. She was also a proud grandmother and great-grandmother whose grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her immense joy. She treasured every moment spent with them. For many years, Barbara worked as an executive secretary and bookkeeper, earning the respect and admiration of colleagues through her dedication, professionalism, and attention to detail.

Good Times · Santa Cruz, CA

Nearby: Santa Cruz, CA

Beached whale draws hundreds

Hundreds of people gathered on Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz Thursday morning after a large fin whale washed ashore. Witnesses said the whale appeared to be alive before it reached the shore, and that it was moving its flippers and blowing water out of its blowhole. Officials from Long Marine Laboratory, the National Oceanic and […]

Good Times · Santa Cruz, CA

Nearby: Santa Cruz, CA

Letters

From young athletes making waves to a free run club making connections, readers celebrate Santa Cruz community and call for more support for public dancing.

San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center · Santa Cruz, CA

Nearby: Santa Cruz, CA

It Starts With Anger - An Interview With Filmmaker / Author James Spooner On His New Book

Interview with James Spooner - filmmaker, author, graphic novelist and tattoo artist. His new book was released in the summer of 2026 and is titled “It Starts With Anger: A Punk Beginning, An AfroPunk Ending.” Spooner will be presenting his new book in Santa Cruz, California on Friday, November 13 at 6:00 PM at the UC Santa Cruz Institute for Arts and Sciences. The evening will be a conversation moderated by cartoonist Johnny Damm.