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Salinas
March 24, 2026

Monterey County lifts most indoor mask mandates

MONTEREY COUNTY — In alignment with the state of California, Monterey County and nearly a dozen other Bay Area jurisdictions have lifted universal mask requirements for most indoor public settings beginning Wednesday. Last week Monterey County announced that it would join the counties of Alameda,...

Why Covid took off in California, again

Between reinstated mask mandates and spiking coronavirus case numbers, this summer is starting to feel a little too much like 2020. Even in California, a state with a vaccination rate well above average, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has nearly doubled in the...

Northwest Laboratory to open new Covid-19 testing site in Salinas

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
SALINAS — Northwest Laboratory will open and operate a new drive-thru Covid-19 testing site in Salinas starting March 3. ā€œOur organization has worked closely with the communities across the U.S. since this pandemic began, providing laboratory analysis for multiple community testing programs,ā€ said Jennifer Bull,...

U.S. averaging 2 million vaccine doses administered per day

UNITED STATES — The average number of vaccine doses being administered across the United States per day topped 2 million for the first time Wednesday, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A month ago, the average was about 1.3...

Monterey County health experts address vaccine hesitancy as state launches incentive program

MONTEREY COUNTY — Medical professionals from area hospitals discussed progress toward quelling the Covid-19 pandemic during Monterey County’s press briefing last week. Among the guest speakers at the May 19 briefing was family practice physician Dr. Joshua Deutsch from Mee Memorial Healthcare System, who spoke...

Crisis Counseling Program provides outreach for Monterey County residents still affected by Covid-19

MONTEREY COUNTY — For those feeling stressed, anxious and lonely in the wake of the ongoing pandemic, Interim’s Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) continues to provide outreach opportunities. Interim’s short-term program offers support to individuals struggling with mental illness, and their families who have been affected...

Monterey County mask order still on the table

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Board of Supervisors has moved forward with a countywide indoor face covering ordinance, which could take effect in late October. Last week the board introduced language for the mask mandate and met on Tuesday for approval. However, due to amendments...

California lost 175,000 ā€˜creative economy’ jobs, study finds

CALIFORNIA — Arts advocates and elected officials in California called Thursday for additional government spending to avert what one organization leader called a ā€œpending cultural depressionā€ brought on by the pandemic. ā€œThere is no economic recovery in our area unless a working creative engine is...

Unemployment claims rise as pandemic hits 1-year mark

The surge in unemployment filings in March 2020 provided one of the first clear warnings of the havoc the pandemic was wreaking on the U.S. economy. One year later, that klaxon is still blaring. More than 746,000 people filed first-time applications for state unemployment benefits last...

California amusement parks allowed to reopen in red tier starting next month

CALIFORNIA — Outdoor amusement parks in California counties in the red tier of the state’s Covid-19 reopening plan will be allowed to welcome back customers next month, the California Department of Public Health announced Friday afternoon. Live outdoor sporting events and performances will, too, be...

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...