The Buzz 11.21.24

FREE SPEECH

The conspiracy theory website Infowars could become a parody of itself if a judge agrees on a sale. Satirical news outlet The Onion was announced as the winning bidder for the website on Nov. 14, with plans to parody conspiracy theorists and other social media actors. The sale is part of the bankruptcy proceedings for Infowars founder Alex Jones, who in late 2022 was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion to the families of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting for defamation. The bankruptcy trustee overseeing the sale received bids from The Onion and the Jones-backed First United American Companies for the website, but ultimately chose the Onion’s bid, even though it was lower than the $3.5 million offered by the other bid, noting The Onion had a better deal for Jones’ creditors. Judge Christopher Lopez said he had questions about the sale process, and ordered a hearing for a date not yet set. On Monday, Nov. 18, First United American Companies asked the judge to disqualify the Onion’s bid, alleging fraud.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Everyone in the control room let out a loud ‘Oooooh!’ at the same time.” - Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Senior Scientist Steven Haddock, speaking about the newly discovered “mystery mollusc” captured glowing on camera for the first time (see story, montereycountynow.com).

GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK

GOOD:

Firefighter training takes a lot of water – about 50,000 gallons per session, according to the Salinas Fire Department. Thanks to a recent purchase of a piece of equipment, the fire department will save a considerable number of gallons. The Pump Pod DRAFTS Unit, purchased by the fire department with the help of a $124,965 rebate by Cal Water, uses about 2,500 gallons per training, saving about two swimming pools’ worth of water every time training takes place. The equipment recirculates the water that would normally go down the drain. Cal Water estimates that the department will save more than 5.8 million gallons of water per year. “With the acquisition of this [DRAFTS unit]… Salinas Fire can reuse 2,500 gallons of water and still prepare our members for any pump operation they may encounter in the field,” Chris Knapp, Salinas Fire Division Chief/Fire Marshal, said in a press release.

GREAT:

More than a decade after the King City Courthouse closed, forcing South County residents in need of court services to travel between one to two hours round-trip to Salinas, things are slowly coming back. Monterey County Superior Court announced a slew of services – including family court filings, restraining orders, small claims and traffic filings – are now offered Tuesdays from 9am to 3:30pm at the King City office, 250 Franciscan Way. It will also offer traffic and child support services the second Tuesday and third Wednesday of each month, respectively. The courthouse, which formerly heard criminal cases, partially reopened in 2021 with limited services twice a month. “We are excited to be reopening the King City Courthouse to provide much-needed services to the residents of South Monterey County,” Presiding Judge Carrie M. Panetta said in a statement.