Voices Of Monterey Bay

01/30/2025

Today is the 10th anniversary of the death of Aracely Zavala. Our Royal Calkins is still on the case.

FEATURED | By Royal Calkins The family of Aracely Zavala is learning not to get their hopes up. It has been 10 years to the day since the King City woman was hurled to her death by a fast-moving SUV driven by her town’s mortician, Robert Eddington. Though friends and family suspect that he meant t...

01/01/2025

Our end-of-year fundraising campaign ends TONIGHT at midnight and we still have a few thousand dollars left to raise to hit our goal. We would love to finish the year off strong!

Here at Voices, we prize truth in reporting above all else, and we know that a strong democracy depends on our type of local/investigative/cultural coverage.

If you value our journalism, please give now; no amount is too small to make a difference. Time is running out! ⏰

12/31/2024

We love books. And during 2024, these stood out to us.

| FEATURED By the VOMB squad Although we skipped a cherished tradition in 2023, we just had to revive the “Books We Loved” for 2024. While social media has brought many distractions — and our national drama only adds to said distractions — there are thousands of books yet to be discovered, t...

12/28/2024

Support high-impact investigative journalism. Support Voices of Monterey Bay.

Apoye al periodismo de investigación de alto impacto. Apoye a Voces de la Bahía de Monterey.

https://voicesofmontereybay.org/donate/

12/27/2024

High-impact, nonprofit news is only possible with your support — and we need to raise additional funds before the year is out!

Thanks to , your donation will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 — when you give before 12/31.

This is a crucial time for American democracy and for public-service journalism. And, right now, your support goes even further.

Can we count on you? News and democracy need you.

12/24/2024

Christmas would not be the same without Royal’s Christmas poem.

OPINION | Note from the “poet:” I have been writing ridiculous poems like the one below for a long time but it was slow to dawn on me that another was needed this year. That’s because the looming political darkness had me thinking anything but warm holiday thoughts. Then a walk in the nearest ...

12/23/2024

Support community journalism! Until Dec. 31, your contribution is doubled! Help us reach our $30,000 goal! Donate today!

¡Apoye al periodismo comunitario! Hasta el 31 de diciembre su contribución se incrementará al doble. ¡Ayúdenos a llegar a nuestra meta de $30,000! ¡Done hoy!

https://voicesofmontereybay.org/donate/

12/20/2024

Those of us who are monsters enthusiasts, we know there’s much to learn from the imaginary creatures. At UCSC, Center for Monster Studies, the learning will be taken to a whole new level.

Story and photos by Charlotte West At the University of California Santa Cruz, a group of scholars is focusing on the creatures that lurk in our nightmares, captivate our imaginations, and reveal our deepest fears and desires. Welcome to the Center for Monster Studies, a one-of-a-kind research hub t...

12/05/2024

In a recent survey by Gallup and the Knight Foundation, only 23% of the more than 5,000+ American adult respondents felt that most national news orgs care about the best interests of their readers, viewers and listeners. That’s pretty grim.

Today, on , we want to remind you that at Voices of Monterey Bay we care very much about not only our community of readers and supporters, but also about the trustworthiness and impact of our independent reporting. These are the very reasons we exist.

If this resonates with you, can we count on you to help us reach our goal of $1,000 by the end of this week?

Thank you for your generosity this !

Voices of Monterey Bay is a volunteer-driven, independent and bilingual news operation. We are able to cover our expenses because of the generous grassroots support we receive from readers like you. Your contribution helps support a new voice on the Central Coast. For readers who prefer the PayPal a...

12/02/2024

Una aldea de micro-casas será construida en Watsonville, gracias al apoyo de la Iglesia Presbiteriana de Westview. Este verano, Voces de la Bahía de Monterey se asoció con Lookout Santa Cruz para traducir esta importante historia.

Por James Dobbins, Lookout Santa Cruz Traducción: Gabriela González, Voces de la Bahía de Monterey Traducida y publicada con permiso de Lookout Santa Cruz. Para boletines y membresía, visite https://lookout.co/newsletters/. Translated and published with permission from Lookout Santa Cruz. For Lo...

11/29/2024

Seems we ARE going back. Our latest opinion piece, by Royal Calkins.

OPINION | By Royal Calkins It was a solid 50 years ago when I got my first real job in journalism. I became a cub reporter in the wonderful college town of Chico, way up there north of Sacramento. It was a long time ago but, really, not that long ago. One of my first assignments was the police beat....

11/28/2024

Our nonprofit newsroom is built on the ideals of democracy — and we know readers like you rely on our truth-seeking, independent and community-rooted journalism to help you stay civically engaged all year long.

Will you give Voices of Monterey Bay — and democracy — a vote of confidence by contributing what you can today?

A better-informed, more equitable Central Coast begins with you. Donate here: https://voicesofmontereybay.org/donate/

11/27/2024

Hot off the press! The one and only Voices newsletter! Check it out, and subscribe!

Remember when we were complaining about the heat? Now it’s all brrrr. Still, we can celebrate the life-giving rain that’s come our way. 

11/23/2024

Maribel is a regular mom. And she’s also a super-mom. She’s devoted to her 23-year-daughter Karizma, for whom she does almost everything except breath. The effort is exhausting and rewarding, a roller coaster of emotions that often accompanies caregivers of their adult children.

Story and photos by Chelcey Adami Editor's Note: Author Chelcey Adami met Maribel Landeros and Karizma Vargas when she wrote about Karizma’s quinceañera. Adami has since become close friends with Landeros. As light cascades through window shades in an East Salinas bedroom, Maribel Landeros opens ...

11/21/2024

Support the only non-profit, bilingual magazine in California's Central Coast. Support Voices of Monterey Bay, Voces de la Bahía de Monterey. Your donation will be match 100% from now until Dec. 31.

Apoye a la única revista bilingüe sin fines de lucro de la Costa Central de California. Apoye a Voices of Monterey Bay, Voces de la Bahía de Monterey. Su donación será igualada al 100% desde ahora hasta el 31 de diciembre.

11/17/2024

Your donation from now until Dec. 31 is matched 100 percent. Support independent journalism. Support Voices of Monterey Bay.

https://voicesofmontereybay.org/donate/

11/14/2024

NEW from Royal Calkins: Jail medical provider Wellpath admits failing to meet requirements imposed on the company, files for bankruptcy.

FEATURED | By Royal Calkins The seemingly bankrupt company that provides health services to inmates at the Monterey County Jail has admitted failing to meet 43 requirements imposed on the company after special monitors found a long pattern of dangerously inadequate care. Wellpath, one of the incarce...

11/05/2024

Money is sending a big message in the Salinas elections.

EDITORIAL | Soon after the Salinas City Council voted 5-0 to impose new renter protections, it occurred to us that the November 5 election, way underway by the time the final drafts were formally adopted on Sept. 24, could also mean a referendum on the three final ordinances. So we asked Salinas Cit...