Remote Surveillance Trailer in Salinas, CA

The Reservoir officially launched its agtech-focused innovation hub this week, creating a landmark program for agtech entrepreneurs to start building their businesses. Reservoir Farms, which claims to be the first on-farm startup incubator in California, features a state-of-the-art R&D facility for early-stage companies. Each company has access to maker space resources for prototyping and building its systems, along with secure build and storage areas.

The key enabler is the on-site working farm area, where the companies can test their products and gather real-world data to enable design decisions. The Robot Report posted a story in June about the open call for applications for the inaugural cohort of companies to occupy the Reservoir Farms. From this call, the initial residents at Reservoir Farms include:

These early-stage companies bought into the vision of connecting leading roboticists, engineers, and agricultural producers to accelerate technology from concept to commercialization.

“From the beginning, our vision has been far more than technology—it’s about partnerships,” said Danny Bernstein, CEO of the Reservoir. “Success is grounded in becoming an authentic part of each farming community, connecting entrepreneurs, growers and next-generation talent to reimagine the sustainability of U.S. farming. Creating this ‘Olympic Village of Agtech’ is only possible with trusted relationships on the ground and a shared vision for what’s possible.”

It was nearly a year ago that Bernstein unveiled the concept of Reservoir Farms, together with industry partners including the Western Growers Association and educational partners like UC ANR, Hartnell College, and Merced College. The vision behind Reservoir Farms is to accelerate the development of new AgTech solutions, while providing an opportunity for innovation to find its way out of research labs and into the field. This is the missing link for entrepreneurs who want to work in the agriculture world, but haven’t had the early development resources necessary to make their dreams a reality.

Last week, the Reservoir announced its strategic partnership with John Deere, a leader in agricultural technology and equipment. For Reservoir residents, the partnership creates a unique environment where innovation meets real-world application. Residents gain access to Deere’s technology (including APIs), expertise, and equipment, alongside dedicated testing acres, structured pilot opportunities, and curated field days.

Earlier this week, John Deere acquired GUSS Automation, a developer of autonomous sprayers for high-value crops. This is the latest in a series of agrobotics-related acquisitions for John Deere.

The Reservoir provides startups with a clearer path to validate solutions in high-value crops, engage directly with growers, and explore potential integrations with Deere’s global platform — strengthening the bridge between early-stage ideas and scalable agricultural impact.

You can learn more about field robotics, and network with the robotics community by attending the field robotics track at RoboBusiness 2025 in Santa Clara, CA on October 16-17. Register now.

A local television station based in Salinas abruptly shut down its news operations on Tuesday after 56 years on the air.

KION-TV, which serves Monterey, Salinas and Santa Cruz regions on California’s Central Coast, announced on its website that it would no longer produce its own local newscasts. Instead, it would partner with Bay Area CBS station KPIX to air its broadcasts, effective 5 p.m. that day.

KION-TV’s news anchors, producers and other employees said they were confused and blindsided by the decision to immediately lay off the more than a dozen employees involved in news operations.

Executives from Missouri-based News-Press & Gazette, which owns the station, joined a regular morning meeting to notify workers that it was their last day on the job. Employees who had shifts later in the day learned the news through calls and text messages from co-workers or from news reports.

“No one knew they were going to kill our news show,” said Victor Guzman, an assistant news director and employee of more than seven years who worked nights daily to write, produce and anchor the morning show. “We are all shocked.”

Telemundo 23, which shared a newsroom with KION-TV, is also ending operations, employees said. The evening Spanish-language show was aired to a large swath of California, including Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, in addition to Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.

Sandy Santos, who produced Telemundo 23 with part-time help from one bilingual reporter, said the decision removes key Spanish-language news media serving large Latino communities in California’s agricultural heartland.

“It creates a void,” said Santos, who grew up in Salinas after immigrating to the area with her family from Mexico. “People are very concerned about what’s going to happen.”

Sergio Berrueta, a digital content director who would have marked his one-year anniversary at the station this week, said he learned the news from a friend and former co-worker who texted him about the change.

“I was completely left in the dark. No one had reached out,” Berrueta said. “I go to the station and everyone’s packing their stuff. People are crying, saying their goodbyes.”

The station had dealt with short-staffing, budget cuts and hiring freezes, employees said. Its closure of news operations comes at a time of economic pressures on local television, with many stations abandoning local newscasts or selling off assets to larger companies. And it leaves the region with the station’s larger competitor KSBW as the lone local broadcast news station.

KION-TV in its Tuesday statement characterized the changes as positive, saying the partnership with the Bay Area station would bring “expanded news coverage” and “builds on a long history,” with KPIX having originally supplied CBS programming to the Salinas station when it first signed on in 1969.

“Our partnership with KPIX ensures that viewers across the Monterey, Salinas and Santa Cruz region continue to receive the high-quality local journalism they deserve” and will deliver “a seamless experience for viewers during a time of change,” Rall Bradley, executive vice president of broadcast at News-Press & Gazette Company, said in the statement.

News-Press & Gazette did not respond to questions from The Times about the decision or if there were plans to provide news for the Central Coast’s Spanish-speaking community.

News-Press & Gazette bought KION-TV in December of 2013. It also owns KEYT in Santa Barbara and KESQ in Palm Springs.

A 56-year-old television newsroom on the Central Coast was effectively shut down this week, reportedly by parent company News-Press & Gazette Company.

Reportedly, 13 staff members of the Salinas-based newsroom KION-TV were laid off Tuesday, including anchors, reporters and meteorologists, according to Monterey County Now.

The station will now be carrying news coverage from San Francisco station KPIX-TV.

In a news release, KPIX-TV said that “viewers in Santa Cruz, Salinas, Monterey, and Carmel — will now see local reporting and weather coverage delivered by CBS Bay Area.”

“It’s going to change the landscape of news coverage in this area,” Jeanette Bent, KION-TV’s former managing editor, told Monterey County Now. “It’s a disservice to this community and we’re all heartbroken.”

Victor Guzman, KION-TV’s former assistant news director, told Lookout Santa Cruz that he was blindsided by the news, which came after he produced what would be his last morning show on Tuesday. “I couldn’t believe it,” Guzman told the outlet. “I still can’t believe it. I ended my morning show by saying, ‘We’ll have more news at 5.’ I had no idea.”

Without KION-TV’s local team, there is just one news station, KSBW, for Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, according to Lookout Santa Cruz.

Now rebranded as “KPIX News on KION,” the new newscast is described as an “evolution” of the original newscast, according to a news release.

“While the station will no longer produce its own full local newscasts, the new partnership ensures Central Coast viewers receive trusted reporting, relevant community updates, and world-class CBS content all in one place,” officials wrote in the news release.

Rall Bradley, the executive vice president of broadcast at KION’s parent company News-Press & Gazette Company, said the partnership would ensure viewers get “the high-quality local journalism they deserve.”

“This collaboration brings together KION’s deep roots in the community with the trusted reporting and innovative storytelling of CBS Bay Area — delivering a seamless experience for viewers during a time of change,” Bradley said in the news release.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 1:45 p.m., Sept. 24, to reflect that KION-TV is partnering with KPIX-TV and has not merged with that outlet. Additionally an earlier headline incorrectly stated KPIX-TV was involved in staffing decisions. KION-TV is owned by News-Press & Gazette Company, which has not yet responded to questions about the reported staff layoffs.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 11:55 a.m., Sept. 24, to correct information on KSBW’s coverage area.

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SANTA CRUZ, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Joby Aviation, Inc., a company developing air taxis for commercial passenger service, today announced it will be at the California International Airshow in Salinas next month, displaying its aircraft for the local community to experience. On October 4 and 5, attendees will have the opportunity to step inside the Joby aircraft, experience the cabin firsthand, and meet the team behind its design. Guided walk-throughs, interactive demos, and hands-on activations will offer an up-close look at the technology, helping build familiarity and excitement around the future of travel.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250923887994/en/

“As someone who grew up here in the Santa Cruz mountains, this community is where my love of flight first took root. What began as a small team of engineers building prototype aircraft has grown into a company employing thousands, united by the belief that we can reimagine how the world moves,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby. “Bringing our aircraft to Salinas feels like a homecoming. We’re honored to share a front-row seat to the future of flight with our neighbors, just miles from where Joby was founded.”

Joby’s participation in the Salinas Airshow reflects its strong commitment to the local community. In 2024, the Company had the opportunity to inspire more than 6,500 local students across 18 events, including STEM fairs, school partnerships, and public showcases of aviation technologies, reinforcing the company’s dedication to fostering the next generation of innovators.

“We’re thrilled to have Joby, the next generation of aviation, at this year’s Airshow in Salinas,” said Harry Wardwell, Executive Director of the Salinas Airshow. “Whether you’re a pilot or an aviation fan, this is a great opportunity to see, touch, and feel the aircraft up close. Joby is leading the charge in electric aviation, making it a perfect fit for our community.”

Participating in the Salinas Airshow is part of Joby’s commitment to giving communities a closer look at the aircraft and its capabilities. Last month, the Company completed its first flight between two U.S. airports – Marina (OAR) and Monterey (MRY), California – demonstrating operations in FAA-controlled airspace. Joby also recently hosted Girls in Aviation Day at the Marina Municipal Airport and took part in Douglas Day at the Santa Monica Airport.

This news comes as Joby continues to make important progress towards receiving the certification required to begin commercial passenger service. The Company announced it will prepare for initial Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) flight tests in early 2026, highlighting the maturity of its flight testing program and the growth of its operational capabilities.

About Joby

Joby Aviation, Inc. is a California-based transportation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing air taxi. Joby intends to both operate its fast, quiet, and convenient air taxi service in cities around the world and sell its aircraft to other operators and partners. To learn more, visit www.jobyaviation.com.

Forward-Looking Statements ​​

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding the development and performance of our aircraft; our business plan, objectives, goals and market opportunity; and our current expectations relating to our business, financial condition, and results of operations, including our plans to begin initial FAA TIA flight testing in early 2026. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, “intend”, “believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “can have”, “likely” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. All forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including: our ability to launch our air taxi service and the growth of the urban air mobility market generally; our ability to produce aircraft that meet our performance expectations in the volumes and on the timelines that we project; the competitive environment in which we operate; our future capital needs; our ability to adequately protect and enforce our intellectual property rights; our ability to effectively respond to evolving regulations and standards relating to our aircraft; our reliance on third-party suppliers and service partners; uncertainties related to our estimates of the size of the market for our service and future revenue opportunities; and other important factors discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 27, 2025, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 8, 2025 and August 7, 2025, and in future filings and other reports we file with or furnish to the SEC. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates and beliefs as of the date of this release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250923887994/en/

Source: Joby Aviation, Inc.

Released September 23, 2025