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Salinas
April 9, 2026

State eases restrictions, allows some reopenings

CALIFORNIA — Facing swelling political pressure and numerous lawsuits by businesses forced to shut down, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California on Monday lifted a strict stay-at-home order and handed to local authorities greater control over whether restaurants, hair salons and other commerce could reopen. The...

Greenfield McDonald’s offers free Big Macs for vaccine registrants

GREENFIELD — Community members who registered for a Covid-19 vaccine at McDonald’s in Greenfield recently were able to get a free Big Mac. The two-day event was held Aug. 6 and 7 in partnership between McDonald’s and Virus Integrated Distribution of Aid (VIDA) Monterey County,...

Uncounted in the unemployment rate, but they want to work

Robert Hesse was expecting an imminent promotion to manager of Sub Zero Ice Cream, a nitrogen ice cream shop in Ventura, California, when it shut down in March because of the pandemic. ā€œI like to work,ā€ said Hesse, a college graduate who turns 26 on...

Monterey County closes Covid-19 testing site in Greenfield

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County Health Department announced the closure of the free Covid-19 testing site at Greenfield Library effective Oct. 17, with the facilities moving to Seaside beginning Tuesday. ā€œWe did get state support to move our testing operations from Greenfield to Seaside High...

Monterey County’s Covid-19 vaccination rates remain stable

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno said the county continues to make Covid-19 vaccines available and is looking toward younger demographics to raise vaccination rates during a press briefing on June 9. Of county residents age 12 and older, 63% have...

Monterey County mask mandate fails to gain enough support

MONTEREY COUNTY — An ordinance that would have required face coverings indoors countywide failed to receive enough support from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors during a special meeting last week. After extensive discussion and public comment at the Sept. 8 meeting, the board voted...

Monterey County moves into red Covid tier

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
MONTEREY COUNTY — Residents in Monterey County can now look forward to fewer restrictions as the region moves from the most severe risk, Purple Tier, and into the moderate risk, Red Tier, of California’s Covid-19 reopening plan. The announcement was made Tuesday after the county...

Black and Hispanic communities grapple with vaccine misinformation

SAN JOSE, Calif. — On an unseasonably warm day in February, two men working with a local community group went door to door in an ethnically diverse neighborhood to persuade people to sign up for COVID-19 vaccinations. It was just after 11 a.m. when they...

New Covid-19 variant detected in Monterey County

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
MONTEREY COUNTY — A new Covid-19 variant has been detected in several California counties, including Monterey County, according to the California Department of Public Health. CDPH announced Jan. 17 that a 452R variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, was identified using genetic sequencing...

King City and Greenfield high schools to reopen in hybrid format this week

SALINAS VALLEY — High schools in King City and Greenfield will reopen this week with a phased return of teachers and students to classrooms beginning April 15. South Monterey County Joint Union High School District Superintendent Brian Walker issued a video update on April 2...

Local News

Salinas Valley Police Reports | Published April 1, 2026

Police Reports are obtained from the local police departments. GREENFIELD Feb. 152:56 a.m. DUI on Oak Av.1:43 p.m. Disorderly conduct and probation violation on Walnut Av.4:58...