4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 8-14, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH It was a deadly year for journalists across the globe—128 were killed in 2025, according to the International Federation of Journalists. Nine deaths were considered accidental. The Middle East and Arab world region was the deadliest, accounting for 58 percent of journalists killed worldwide. Palestine alone accounted for 56 deaths, the most out of all places, with Yemen a distant second at 13. The IFJ launched its annual Killed List in 1990, tracking an average of 91 deaths per year, for a total of 3,173. In 2024, the IFJ reported 122 deaths. “One-hundredand-twenty-eight journalists killed in a single year is not just a statistic, it is a global crisis,” IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said. “These deaths are a brutal reminder that journalists are being targeted with impunity, simply for doing their job. Governments must act now to protect media workers, bring killers to justice and uphold press freedom.” The list also tracks the number of journalists incarcerated at 533 in 2025, with China jailing the most media workers. Good: Goodwill Central Coast opened its largest retail store at 1425 North Davis Road in Salinas on Jan. 2 with plans to further bolster its training services for job seekers. A career training center is in development at the site, meant to further expand Goodwill’s employment services that include job placement, résumé development and more. Revenue generated at the store, as well as Goodwill’s other locations throughout Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties, goes toward the program. “It creates a better experience for our shoppers, a safer and more efficient workplace for our employees, and—most importantly—expands our ability to create jobs and training programs when people need them most,” Christine Westbrook, CEO of Goodwill Central Coast, said of the new location. Family-friendly events are scheduled to celebrate the store on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 10-11. GREAT: The County of Monterey Health Department has received two California Office of Traffic Safety grants totaling $430,000, with a goal of saving lives on local roads. In mid-December, the department received more than $168,800 to support a Cannabis Education Program. That grant is for outreach and education aimed at young adults to prevent deaths and injuries resulting from driving under the influence of cannabis or alcohol. Later, the Health Department announced a $261,165 grant for its child safety seat education program. “With this funding, we can provide hands-on training, resources and support so that every family has the knowledge and tools needed to keep their children safe,” said Julia Marmolejo, health program coordinator. The funding will be used for outreach events, classes and seat inspections, plus distribution of seats and training on how to install them. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how many injured wild animals the SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center rescued in 2025. That included a bald eagle in late December, which is thought to have been electrocuted in Salinas. Source: SPCA Monterey County 2,863 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “How we use [our military] for foreign intervention is just un-freaking real.” -Justin Loza, president of Chapter 46 of Veterans for Peace, who helped organize a protest over the U.S’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (see story, montereycountynow.com/news).
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