The Buzz 11.27.25

FREE SPEECH

Reporters from the nonprofit online news outlet Suncoast Searchlight in Florida accused their editor of using AI to edit their stories, adding false information and made-up quotes. In a letter to the nonprofit’s board, the four reporters stated Editor Emily Le Coz was hiding her use of AI tools from staff. Less than a day after the board received the letter, one of the reporters was fired, reportedly for performance issues, although the reporter told Nieman Lab that she had not received any prior warnings. The reporters, in the letter, requested the board to implement an AI policy, investigate whether AI-generated writing was published and asking Le Coz to not use AI to edit in the future. Board chair Keith Woods wrote that the board is conducting an internal review, but had spoken to Le Coz and had “full confidence in her editing processes.” “While the investigation remains ongoing, no issues have surfaced concerning the accuracy of Searchlight’s journalism or the ethics of the editorial process,” he wrote. “The board remains highly confident in the integrity of the Searchlight team’s journalism.”

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“If we are prepared and give our all, I can accept losing to a team that is better.” - Monterey Bay FC’s new Chief Soccer Officer Oliver Wyss, on setting standards for the team (see story, montereycountynow.com)

GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK

GOOD:

Mina Harigae had a memorable weekend on Pebble Beach’s golf courses. Not only did the Monterey native and LPGA Tour professional win the TaylorMade Invitational, which wrapped up on Sunday, Nov. 23, she set a new women’s course record at The Links at Spanish Bay, firing a torrid 64 on Nov. 21. Harigae is only the second woman to win the unique event in its 54 years. Juli Inkster claimed the title in 1990. The pro-am tournament puts PGA, LPGA, PGA Champions and Korn Ferry Tour professionals on the same course, playing from different tees across three of Pebble Beach’s courses. Harigae recorded a 69 on Thursday, Nov. 20 at Pebble Beach Golf Links before setting history the next day at Spanish Bay. She ended the tournament by besting PGA Tour pro Cameron Sisk by 3 strokes. Harigae grew up in Monterey and turned pro in 2009.

GREAT:

Monterey-Salinas Transit has a plan to convert its entire fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2040. That involves more than just purchasing electric buses, but also includes building up the infrastructure to keep the fleet running. The effort got a boost when U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, and Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, announced on Nov. 25 that the transit agency received a $1 million federal grant to go toward this goal. The grant, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, will be used to purchase a backup generator for the bus fleet. “These funds are a critical part of building a complete funding package to develop an energy storage system for our growing fleet of zero-emission buses,” MST General Manager/CEO Carl Sedoryk said. “This system will ensure we can draw power during emergencies when the PG&E grid is unavailable.”