6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 18-24, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Stars and Stripes has operated for decades within the U.S. Department of Defense, authorized by Congress to be editorially independent of the government. Yet, the Trump administration is attempting to take control of the newspaper and censor its coverage of the military, a lawsuit filed June 3 alleges. In January, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the newspaper would move away from “woke distractions,” while a March memo from the department announced changes, prohibiting it from publishing stories from other news outlets, and requiring content to be “consistent with good order and discipline of the military.” Two former journalists who sit on the Stars and Stripes advisory board sued the Department of Defense. “In a matter of a few months, the DoD has stripped Stars and Stripes of its long-standing editorial independence, ignoring its own regulations and the First Amendment,” said Suki Dardarian, one of the plaintiffs. Parnell called the lawsuit “without merit,” and said the department expects to prevail in court. Good: Good news for tree lovers and Salinas residents who want to see more greenery in their neighborhoods: The city has launched an Adopt-A-Tree program. Residents can get a free tree if they agree to take care of it and commit to watering it at least once a week for three years. According to the U.S. Forest Service, average tree coverage in urban areas nationwide is 27 percent. Salinas, meanwhile, stands at just 8 percent. Trees cool neighborhoods, provide clean air and make places more visually welcoming. Those interested can receive an application at bit.ly/AdoptATreeSalinas. A city employee will evaluate areas of the property where trees should be planted and recommend the type of tree suited to each location. Salinas has a list of 36 approved trees that residents can choose from to spruce up their properties, including purple orchid, palo verde and blackwood acacia. GREAT: After closing for renovations in August 2022, Mi Tierra Mercado y Taqueria at Fremont Boulevard and Broadway Avenue in Seaside reopened in a completely remodeled space, with new and expanded departments and additional items. All of the taqueria’s classic favorites, such as the al pastor tacos, have returned, alongside some of the kitchen’s original staff members. The renovated market now includes a walk-in cooler with fresh produce, new salsas, an expanded frozen section and meat department and a new panaderia with sweet treats such as churros and pan dulce. Patrons can also enjoy their favorite taqueria items inside the market or in an outdoor dining space. At the long-awaited reopening on Friday, June 12, the public flocked to the longtime Seaside favorite, which was offering free agua frescas for the day, with the line for the taqueria stretching out the door. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how many battery modules have been removed out of an estimated 35,772 from Vistra’s Moss Landing facility, which was destroyed in a January 2025 fire. The second phase of cleanup, which includes accessing the destroyed building, is expected to begin in July. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 34,786 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Our community is not a dumping ground for Trump’s ICE chaos.” -Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, after the state filed a lawsuit seeking to halt construction of an ICE facility in Gilroy (see story, montereycountynow.com/news).
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