October 30 — THE FIGHT over a ballot measure that would increase the transient occupancy tax rate by 2 percentage points to 12% is drawing to a close, and proponents and opponents are doing their best to convince voters to take their sides. In the runup to Nov. 3, they’ve been peppering the city and surrounding areas with signs ... Read More

October 30 — WITH FLAMES and smoke billowing skyward behind it early Wednesday morning, Jerome’s Carmel Valley Market appeared doomed. But thanks to light winds and a quick response by firefighters, the market escaped the blaze with almost no damage, while a two-story office complex behind it burned to the ground ... Read More

October 29 — MONTEREY COUNTY officials this week rejected a federal demand to help identify 310 people the government described as “likely aliens” on local voter rolls, calling the action an “assault on the integrity” of the county’s elections. Officials also maintain there is no evidence that the people identified are unlawfully registered ... Read More

October 29 — PROSECUTORS ANNOUNCED yet more charges this week against alleged scammers accused of operating large health care fraud schemes in California and costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Among those charged are two Southern California medical professionals who allegedly defrauded Medicare of $135 million ... Read More