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Salinas
November 29, 2025

What to know about new masking guidelines in California

The delta variant is really throwing a wrench into our vaccinated summer. The super contagious strain of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly, leading, once again, to a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, prompting leaders to reverse course on guidance that if you’re inoculated, you...

Monterey County job centers expand hours as pandemic unemployment benefits expire

MONTEREY COUNTY — On Sept. 4, the federal unemployment insurance program, known as the Pandemic Unemployment Insurance benefit, created under the CARES Act, will expire in California and across the states. ā€œStarting today, over 3 million California workers impacted by the expiration of these critical...

California to require Covid vaccines for students by fall 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California announced Friday that the state plans to add the coronavirus vaccine to other vaccinations required to attend school, such as measles and mumps, starting as early as next fall. The vaccine mandate, for public and private schools, will be phased...

City parks in Monterey County reopen to community

MONTEREY COUNTY — City parks throughout Monterey County have begun to reopen due to the lessening of health restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. Gonzales Recreation Department announced the reopening of its parks by March 12. The announcement followed a March 1 reopening of the...

Monterey Bay Aquarium loans freezer to help Mee Memorial fight coronavirus

KING CITY — Monterey Bay Aquarium has loaned a freezer capable of reaching sub-zero temperatures to Mee Memorial Healthcare System in an effort to help the South Monterey County hospital administer Covid-19 vaccines in the area. ā€œWhile vaccines remain in short supply in Monterey County,...

Monterey County plans for return of migrant farmworkers

SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County health officials have been working with agricultural companies and have reiterated safety plans with the onset of the new growing season, with the goal of keeping ag workers safe and the food supply network stable. ā€œWith the start of the...

Covid-19 relief funds available for small businesses in Monterey County

MONTEREY COUNTY — Federal, state and county agencies, including Cal Coastal, continue to offer assistance to local businesses, with two new programs having recently begun to help them bounce back from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Cindy Merzon, director of Cal Coastal’s Small Business...

Second resident dies from coronavirus in Monterey County

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Health Department reported the county’s second death of a resident from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Tuesday. No other information about the individual has been released. As of the health department's latest report, there are now 42 confirmed cases of residents...

Monterey County lifts indoor mask requirement for employees, visitors of county facilities

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County will lift its indoor mask requirement Monday for all county facilities except those that are covered by ongoing state mandates like jails and health care facilities. The county said in a statement that it will lift mask requirements and health...

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...

Local News

Salinas Valley Police Reports | Published Nov. 26, 2025

Police Reports are obtained from the local police departments. SOLEDAD Nov. 1712:16 a.m. Misconduct on San Gabriel.6:36 a.m. Property report on West St.9:40 p.m. Property damage...