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Around 100,000 monarch butterflies are estimated to make up the whole western population this year.Around 100,000 monarch butterflies are estimated to make up the whole western population this year. With 12,364 in Pacific Grove, which is the most butterflies they’ve seen in five years. So the big question is — why so many this year compared to last year when there were essentially none? Stephanie Turcotte-Edenholm, an educational docent for the Pacific Grove museum of natural history education said, “The monarchs decide where they want to go and where they get their needs met. So if it was too dry...

The sea otters who call the Monterey Bay Aquarium home are rolling up their invisible sleeves to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. No sea otters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium have tested positive for COVID. However, a group of Asian small-clawed otters at Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta all tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, back in April 2021. The aquarium says the animals all showed symptoms, including sneezing, runny noses, lethargy and coughing. There have also been deadly outbreaks among minks, who are cousins of the sea otter. Dr. Michael Murray, who is the Jane Dunaway Director of...

Law enforcement and health leaders in Monterey County have a new tool in their fight against the growing opioid crisis on the Central Coast. "Basically what the machine does is in real-time can test a substance and tell you what's in it," said Dr. Reb Close of Montage Health and the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. It's called Tru Narc, a drug testing device rolled out Friday by Montage Health and the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. The $30,000 device can determine the makeup of counterfeit pills and illegal drugs. "The safety comes down to the fact that...

A small explosive device was used in an attempted ATM heist on the Central Coast. According to Seaside Police Department investigators, a person used explosives to try and steal cash from an ATM at the Bank of America in Seaside. Police said that no money was stolen. The explosive device was used between 5 and 6 a.m., Tuesday morning.

Monterey Bishop Prohibits Religious Exemption from COVID Vaccine Mandates“For these reasons, I will not issue, and I have directed our clergy not to issue, any Letters of Religious exemption because it would contradict the clear objective teaching of the Catholic Church and the Holy See on this matter,” Bishop Garcia wrote.MONTEREY, Calif. — Bishop Daniel Garcia of Monterey on Friday directed clergy not to provide letters of religious exemption for Catholics wishing not to receive a coronavirus vaccine.“Pope Francis has highly encouraged the vaccination as an act of safeguarding one’s own health as well as that of others –...

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office solved a 40-year-old murder case involving the 1981 murder of a 30-year-old Central Coast woman. On Oct. 15, 1981, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office went to Sonia Carmen Herok Stone's home in the Carmel Point area of Monterey County. She had been murdered. Stone was a single mother, living alone with her young daughter. She worked for the Levi Strauss Company at the time of her death. The Sheriff's Office identified a suspect, Michael Scott Glazebrook, who was 25 years old at the time and Stone’s neighbor. The case went to trial in 1983 and...

Automobile enthusiasts and collectors crowded the famed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links on Sunday for Monterey Car Week's premier event, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. After a day of perusing and judging it was announced that a 1938 Mercedes Benz 540k took home the "Best of Show" trophy. In 2019, the last time the event was held, a 1931 Bentley 8 litre Gurney Nutting Sport Tourer took the trophy home. The announcement of the Best of Show marks the curtain call for a memorable week of roaring exotics and classic rides on the Monterey Peninsula.

--Video from previous broadcast: Monterey County union leaders at odds with county over vaccine mandate The Monterey County Sheriff's Office will not be enforcing the Monterey County Board of Supervisors "The sheriff has made it clear that he's not going to enforce this or discipline the employees if they do not do what the board said as it relates to mandatory vaccinations," said Chief Deputy and sheriff spokesman John Thornburg. "The sheriff also believes that whether or not to get the vaccine is up to the individual." On Friday, July 30, the board said that all county employees must be...

The search is on for the person or persons who abandoned a large python on the side of Del Monte road near the Marina landfill. “Just sad truly sad both that the animal suffered and that somebody would do that,” said Charlie Sammut, director of the Monterey Zoo who responded to the original call of an abandoned snake. Sammut says the snake was a reticulated python, measuring 17-feet and was approximately 10 years old. “It counted on us for a long time it counted on someone for a long time only to be let down at the end,” said Sammut....

A Stanford professor explains the importance of why “Murder at Full Moon” should be on bookshelves.Long before he became one of America's most-well known novelists, Monterey County icon John Steinbeck wrote three books that were never published. Two of them he destroyed, but the other has remained in the archives, relatively unknown, until recently. The unpublished novel is titled Murder at Full Moon. It’s a murder mystery involving werewolves. “I was really surprised to discover that it wasn't some unfinished draft or some sort of just just wacky experiment. It was a complete novel,” said Stanford profession Gavin Jones....

A man who escaped police custody Tuesday afternoon was rearrested after leading law enforcement on a chase in a police cruiser in Monterey. According to Lt. Mike Bruno with the Monterey Police Department, police were looking for a woman who had led police on a recent chase. When they arrived at her hotel room they found Corey Duncan, 33, from Santa Cruz with her. Duncan was arrested and placed in a police car. Police did not say why Corey was arrested. While in the car, Duncan slipped out of his handcuffs and led police on a foot chase. During the...

Curious humpback whales visit whale watching tour in Monterey Bay. >>Watch the video above to see the whales. Advertisement According to Randy Straka, a photographer with Princess Monterey Whale Watching, the curious whales did some people watching. "We had another exciting day on the Bay yesterday! The Humpbacks are showing up in bigger numbers over the past couple days, and we had a great sighting. A pair of friendly Humpback whales got curious about our boat and did some people watching for about a half hour on our 12:30 p.m. trip aboard the Atlantis Monterey on 4/15/21," wrote Straka to...

Car Week on the Monterey Peninsula will be back this year. Organizers said Friday they are going ahead with plans for some big events which could provide a much-needed economic boost for the battered hospitality industry. The Pebble Beach Concours d‘Elegance is on for 2021, one of the biggest events on the Central Coast every year. The Concours, and other car week events, bring tens of thousands of people to the Monterey Peninsula every year. A lot of people in one place but organizers say they have a plan to keep everyone safe. >>Watch the full story in the video...

The small Monterey County town of Parkfield boasts a lofty title: the earthquake capital of the world.

Over the weekend wolf OR-93 had traversed the Central Valley and crossed Interstate 5 to enter San Benito County, but the wolf didn't stop there. He has continued west and now joins spring breakers in Monterey County. Amaroq Weiss with the Center for Biological Diversity has been tracking OR-93's journey. Weiss said about 50% of young wolves leave their birth packs to start their own families. "They are looking for a mate of their own and they are looking for a place to set up a territory, it's like an 18-year-old kid leaving home for the first time, going off...

Two bobcat cubs, a brother and a sister, were released back into the wild of Jacks Peak Park in Monterey after nearly a year of rehabilitation. In the Summer of 2020, the SPCA of Monterey County rescued the cubs before they were transferred to the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley. On March 24, the siblings were set free. According to the SPCA, the cubs were raised together, fed live rodents, and had little to no human contact. All of those steps were taken to make them self-sufficient in the wild and to have a natural fear of humans. Monterey County...

Eager visitors will soon be able to visit Toro Park, once the gates open in April. The popular Central Coast recreational facility is preparing to once again host outdoor enthusiast and family outings after the River Fire burnt through it last August. Since then, crews have had their hands full removing damaged trees and cleaning trails, while still carrying out the day to day operations. But their hard work is about to pay off. Bryan Flores, Administrative Operations Manager said,"Were making preparations to have events and reservations whether it's somebody's birthday or wedding reception, bike race, cross country race and...

Clear skies and abnormally warm weather in January brought several people to the Big Sur coastlineClear skies and abnormally warm weather in January brought several people to the Big Sur coastline, but with so many people out and about the chance for social distancing starts to become difficult. Scenic lookouts like the one over at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park attract hundreds of tourists to witness Big Sur’s beautiful vistas. However, the path to get there is a tight squeeze. Although it makes some visitors slightly uncomfortable, like Los Angeles resident Max Taylor, he said it’s worth it for his...

After paying $15K fine, DA says Tuck Box owner owes $20KA Carmel restaurant owner hit with a $35,000 fine for defying state and county public health orders is doubling down in his battle against the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office saying he has no intention on paying a fine until his questions are answered. The DA’s Office on Monday issued a press release indicating it is triggering the remaining $20,000 in civil penalties against Jeff LeTowt, owner of the Tuck Box, for violating an existing injunction, which also laid out the procedure should the violations persist. He was initially fined...

A public safety alert has been issued for San Benancio/Corral de Tierra area, in Monterey County, for three wolf-hybrid dogs. According to the Monterey County Health Department, the three dogs are not contained in the area and could pose a threat to the community. Animal Services is asking the public to not approach or try to catch these animals. Small animals, birds and livestock should be safely confined until these animals can be contained. "If you see these animals during business hours, please call Animal Control at 831-769-8856. Animal Control is monitoring this line frequently. If you see these animals...