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April 6, 2018

CONGRESSMAN JIMMY Panetta Wednesday awarded a veteran of the Vietnam War with the Vietnam Service Medal, which honors those who served in the 20-year war. Johnnie Dean Johnson, 66, who served with the United States Navy on the USS Coral Sea, was presented the medal at Panetta's district office in Salinas. Johnson took part in the March 1975 Operation Frequent Wind, a largescale evacuation where helicopters were used to transport more than 1,000 Americans and nearly 6,000 Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam to aircraft carriers.

Issues:Veterans

April 5, 2018

A Vietnam-era veteran was recognized for his service Wednesday in Salinas by Congressman Jimmy Panetta.

Salinas resident Johnnie Johnson, 66, was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal that recognizes his time in the region, specifically during his time on the USS Coral Sea during Operation Frequent Wind in the 1975 evacuation of Saigon as a member of the United States Navy.

Issues:Veterans

April 4, 2018

Salinas >> Johnnie Johnson, 66, is awarded the Vietnam Service Medal in honor of his work on the USS Coral Sea during Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon at the conclusion of the Vietnam War. Rep. Jimmy Panetta presented the award Wednesday afternoon at his office in Salinas. Manny Jimenez, a staffer in Panetta's office, helped research and correct Johnson's previous incorrectly-awarded medal. "This closes a chapter in my career," said Johnson. "I can finally call myself a Vietnam veteran." Johnson served a total of 20 years in the U.S. Navy.

Issues:Veterans

April 2, 2018

Rep. Jimmy Panetta on Tuesday announced that Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties received more than $511,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Food and Shelter Program for local social service agencies to offer food, housing, and utility assistance for those in need. Specifically, Santa Cruz County received $177,480, Monterey County received $298,982 and San Benito County received $35,317.

"These grants help local organizations provide our neighbors in need with a roof over their heads and food on the table," said Panetta in a release.


April 2, 2018

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. - President Trump tweeted Sunday morning, "NO MORE DACA DEAL." His statement comes just one week after tweeting the Democrats "abandoned" DACA, but he would not.

There are roughly 800,000 recipients of the program nationwide, many of them are on the Central Coast. Their future is still up in the air.

"Fear. Something that I feel its being timed. Like my future is being timed," DACA Recipient and Hartnell College student, Estefania Miranda, said.

Issues:Immigration

April 2, 2018

Gonzales >> The Gonzales High School campus was empty on Monday afternoon as students were on a much needed spring break just before the end of the school year.

But that didn't stop a group of students in the Wings of Knowledge program from hosting Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, to discuss an idea that could benefit farmers and forecasters in the near future.

The students showed off a new weather station project they've been working on in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.


March 29, 2018

Congressman Jimmy Panetta represents California's Central Coast, the diverse region covering all of Monterey and San Benito Counties and southern portions of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties. California's Central Coast is the epicenter of specialty crop and organic agriculture producing over $5 billion annually.

OPN recently sat down to discuss the importance of organic horticulture with Congressman Panetta.

Issues:Agriculture

March 27, 2018

SALINAS, Calif. - More than half a million dollars in grants will go toward improving homelessness and other issues on the Central Coast.

Today Congressman Jimmy Panetta announced Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties received $511,779 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) for local social service agencies to offer food, housing and utility assistance for those in need. Specifically, Monterey County received $298,982, San Benito County received $35,317, and Santa Cruz County received $177,480.


March 27, 2018

Salinas >> A Federal Emergency Management Agency grant provided $298,982 to Monterey County for local service agencies to offer food, housing and utility assistance for those in need, Rep. Jimmy Panetta announced Tuesday.