Elena Neale-Sacks
Reporter/Producer, California Local News FellowAfter freelancing for KAZU for 8 months, Elena joined the station full-time in September 2024 as a California Local News Fellow. Prior to joining KAZU, they worked as a podcast producer at The Oregonian. Their reporting and research has been featured on NPR, KQED, Netflix, Reveal, CalMatters, and more. Elena is an alum of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and UC Santa Cruz. They currently live in Santa Cruz.
When they aren't reporting, chances are they're either playing competitive ultimate frisbee, hiking, camping, playing board games, or hanging out with their cat Cheddar.
Email: elena@kazu.org
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In this week's episode of Monterey Bay This Week, Cal State Monterey Bay hosts it's fourth annual gift drive for student-parents, a UC Santa Cruz program dedicated to preserving community history is ending just three years after its debut, and more local news. -
A new year means new laws set to take effect in California. One measure will grant certain high school seniors automatic admission to many California State University campuses. Another will make it easier to build mid-rise apartments near public transportation. -
A UC Santa Cruz program dedicated to preserving community history is ending just three years after its debut. -
The Monterey County District Attorney's office is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Soledad. And, migrant children are stuck alone in federal shelters across the country even when relatives have been cleared to take them. -
Major layoffs in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, local growers are unhappy with a Trump farm bailout, and new approaches for housing gain steam. That and more in this week's roundup. -
President Trump announced a $12 billion bailout for farmers in response to the effects of his tariffs, but it leaves out most small-scale fruit and vegetable producers. Plus, a new cohousing community is coming to Santa Cruz. -
Santa Cruz County officials approve a compromise on the long-debated Rail-Trail, Carmel bans pickleball, nonprofit Al & Friends delivers fresh fish to local residents facing food insecurity, and more in this week's local news roundup. -
Toxic metals in Elkhorn Slough after battery fire, 'Protect Salinas Renters' investigation concludesNewly published research confirms the January battery fire in Moss Landing released toxic metals into a protected marine estuary. And, an investigation into “Protect Salinas Renters” did not find evidence of wrongdoing in the group’s efforts to gather signatures for a petition earlier this year. -
A paper published in November confirms that the Vistra battery fire in Moss Landing in January released heavy metal deposits into Elkhorn Slough Reserve. Researchers are now trying to understand what that means for the ecosystem. -
The University Corporation at Monterey Bay, an auxiliary of Cal State Monterey Bay, has rescinded layoff notices sent during the federal government shutdown. And, the Trump administration has sued California over laws that let undocumented college students access in-state tuition and financial aid.
