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Salinas
February 13, 2026

State’s indoor mask mandate to expire for most vaccinated residents

CALIFORNIA — California will roll back its mask requirement next week for vaccinated residents in most indoor spaces, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. The state implemented the mandate in mid-December as COVID-19 cases began to spike due to the highly infectious omicron variant, requiring residents...

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...

Salinas Valley cities declare local emergency over coronavirus threat, as Monterey County confirms first two cases

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
SALINAS VALLEY — The South Monterey County cities of Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield and King City each signed proclamations declaring a local emergency Monday due to the current threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. ā€œThe potential spread of the virus does pose a risk to our...

Monterey County lifts indoor mask mandate

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Board of Supervisors has voted to suspend the masking requirement of its indoor face covering ordinance, effective immediately. ā€œThis means while wearing face coverings in indoor public settings remains strongly recommended, it is no longer required,ā€ according to Maia Carroll,...

Taking the vaccine into the fields to help vulnerable farmworkers

CALIFORNIA — Before state officials announced that 40% of California's new vaccine doses would go to low-income communities, leaders were struggling to make good on promises to prioritize vulnerable Californians in the vaccine rollout. As my colleague Miriam Jordan recently wrote, farmworkers were among those...

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...

Will you need a vaccine passport in California?

Baseball is back across California. Tickets to see Bad Bunny early next year were snatched up in no time. The Musso & Frank Grill — the iconic, very much indoors Hollywood haunt — has announced it will reopen May 6. That’s all been possible, officials...

Monterey County inches closer to red tier of California reopening plan

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
MONTEREY COUNTY — Infection rates are declining in Monterey County, with fewer daily confirmed cases of Covid-19 as time goes on, reported county health officer Dr. Edward Moreno during the March 3 press briefing. ā€œIf we continue to avoid gatherings and stay home as much...

Monterey County health officials encourage flu vaccines amid Covid-19 pandemic

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
MONTEREY COUNTY — Officials with Monterey County Health Department and local hospitals urged the public to get flu shots in time for the upcoming flu season during a media briefing Oct. 21. Representatives from Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey, Salinas Valley Memorial...

Monterey County remains in purple tier, as Covid-19 vaccine rollout makes progress

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Health Department announced earlier this week that ā€œsufficient progressā€ has been made vaccinating Phase 1a health care workers, and that providers may now begin to offer Covid-19 vaccine to residents age 75 years or older in Phase 1b, Tier...

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Salinas Valley State Prison

Former prison lieutenant from Greenfield faces smuggling charges

GREENFIELD — A former California state correctional lieutenant has been arrested on charges of conspiring to smuggle contraband into state prison in exchange for...