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Salinas
March 2, 2026

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...

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,...

Studies examine variant surging in California, and the news isn’t good

CALIFORNIA — A variant first discovered in California in December is more contagious than earlier forms of the coronavirus, two new studies have shown, fueling concerns that emerging mutants like this one could hamper the sharp decline in cases overall in the state and...

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...

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...

Monterey County could move to yellow tier as soon as next week, top health official says

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County could move into the yellow tier of the state's pandemic reopening system as soon as next week, the county's top health official said Tuesday. Monterey County's rate of new cases per day per 100,000 residents, adjusted for the county's testing...

Hartnell nursing students educate hundreds of Gonzales ag workers about Covid-19 vaccine

GONZALES — Registered and vocational nursing students from Hartnell College recently went to Taylor Farms in Gonzales to present information about Covid-19 vaccines and answer questions regarding the process of getting immunized. ā€œThe purpose is to be here to give presentations on the importance of...

Covid-19 case rates continue to escalate in Monterey County

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno said in an Aug. 18 press briefing that the county continues to have higher case rates of Covid-19 from the Delta variant, and that data is backing up the effectiveness of vaccines. ā€œIn Monterey County,...

Correctional Training Facility reports massive Covid-19 outbreak among inmates

SOLEDAD — Correctional Training Facility (CTF) in Soledad has the most active cases of Covid-19 among those incarcerated throughout the entire California state prison system. As of Thursday, there are currently 773 inmates infected with the coronavirus at CTF, with 779 new cases reported in...

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,...

Local News

Salinas Valley Police Reports | Published Feb. 25, 2026

Police Reports are obtained from the local police departments. KING CITY Jan. 51:05 a.m. Vandalism on N. Vanderhurst Av.10:00 a.m. Bench warrant on S. San Lorenzo...