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Salinas
March 29, 2026

California orders all teachers to be vaccinated or face regular testing

California became the first state to issue a vaccine mandate for all educators in public and private schools when Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered teachers and school staff members to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or face weekly testing. ā€œWe think it’ll be...

FEMA program offers relief for Covid-related funeral expenses

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County residents can apply for financial help to cover funeral expenses through FEMA’s Covid-19 Funeral Assistance Program, which began accepting applications Monday. As of April 14, Monterey County has lost 348 residents to Covid-19. ā€œFor those families who have lost a loved...

Covid-19 cases, deaths surge to new highs in Monterey County

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
MONTEREY COUNTY — Thousands of new cases and dozens of deaths related to Covid-19 have been reported in Monterey County since the beginning of the new year, less than two weeks ago. According to California’s Covid-19 reporting system, last updated Jan. 12, Monterey County’s virus...

Biden signs extension of Paycheck Protection Program

President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a two-month extension of the Paycheck Protection Program, which offers loans for small businesses struggling with the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden signed the extension in the Oval Office alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Isabella Casillas...

California’s next vaccine eligibility expansion

Well, the moment many of us have been waiting for has arrived: Californians 50 and older will be eligible to be vaccinated starting April 1, and residents older than 16 will be eligible starting April 15, state officials announced Thursday, in an effort to...

Pop-up sites increase access to Covid-19 testing for South Monterey County residents

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
SALINAS VALLEY — Free pop-up Covid-19 testing sites have been emerging lately in South Monterey County as part of an effort to increase testing access after a new site was added to Castroville to the existing lineup of Salinas and Seaside. When available, local residents...

Mass vaccination clinics launch throughout Salinas Valley

SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County companies, organizations and agencies have partnered to host mass vaccination sites weekly, with the latest having taken place at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City last Saturday. Two mass clinics had already taken place earlier this month in Salinas,...

Gonzales schools begin phased reopening plan

GONZALES — Gonzales City Council recently heard an update on schools from Gonzales Unified School District Superintendent Yvette Irving. Among the information presented at the April 5 meeting was that fewer high school seniors were facing risk of not graduating, and that the creation of...

Monterey County supervisor proposes plan to rehire laid-off hospitality workers

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo submitted a pandemic economic recovery ordinance for the county on Feb. 3, aimed at recalling laid-off county hospitality, restaurant and travel workers when the economy re-opens.  The ordinance would request those recalls based on greatest length of...

What can reopen in California’s red tier?

CALIFORNIA — Coronavirus cases have continued to recede. President Joe Biden said that there will be enough vaccine available for all U.S. adults by the end of May, sooner than previously expected, because of a deal with Johnson & Johnson to boost supply. More...

Local News

Courthouse arrest of Soledad man

Soledad man arrested after driving stolen car to court hearing

SOLEDAD — A Soledad man was arrested Tuesday after authorities say he drove a stolen vehicle to a scheduled court appearance for a pending...