FREE SPEECH
In the latest attempt by the Trump administration to rewrite history it deems inconvenient, the Department of Justice announced it has removed press releases from its website related to the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters. A post on X by the Justice Department stated the move strips the “DOJ’s website of partisan propaganda.” “We are proud to reverse the DOJ’s weaponization under the Biden administration,” the post states. “We will do everything in our power to make whole those who were persecuted for political purposes.” Eight people died, including five police officers, during and after the riot. More than 1,500 people were charged with crimes related to the attack, but Trump pardoned or commuted the prison sentences of all those people during his first day back in office. Some of the posts removed from the website included those announcing charges against members of far-right groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. The Justice Department in April was granted a request to vacate those convictions.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“This was a radical change.” - Tony Malokas, who has worked as a caddy at Pebble Beach for 26 years, speaking about a change in which caddies became employees rather than independent contractors of Caddiemaster. The group will vote on whether to unionize in June (see more, montereycountynow.com/news)
GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK
GOOD:
Good news for parents of young children and for entrepreneurs interested in providing care to those children: The Monterey County Business Council, nonprofit Nurture and Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Initiative have launched a program to aid new, at-home child care businesses. The goal is to address a need in Monterey County, with a focus on South County. The Business Council is investing $150,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds via the County of Monterey. “We are not only creating jobs and businesses but also providing the essential support systems that allow working parents in Monterey County to participate in the local economy,” said Richard Vaughn, County economic development manager. The program provides training and technical assistance for entrepreneurs; the first cohort will finish a 12-week program in June. New cohorts begin in August and November.
GREAT:
Do you know what to do with that moldy cheese or stale bread? Thanks to an outreach campaign by ReGen Monterey, Salinas Valley Recycles and consultant Blue Strike Environmental, you should. Out of more than 500 entries statewide, their Sort With Heart campaign took home three awards at the 2026 Annual California Association of Public Information Officials conference in San Diego on May 12, recognized for bilingual public service announcement, best communications campaign in California, and the big win, best in show across all categories. The $266,000 campaign on how and what to compost included newspaper ads, TV commercials, murals painted in Seaside and Greenfield, and more, funded with grants from CalRecycle. If somehow you missed all of that outreach, the answer to the question above (but we know you know it): Put in the green bin.