Monterey County misses marks to move to fewer Covid-19 restrictions
MONTEREY COUNTY — While the state of California lowered the tiers of multiple counties to the most restrictive tier (purple) earlier this month, Monterey County has never left the purple tier since the new system was implemented this summer.
The latest restrictions also come...
Why Omicron was first found in San Francisco
As soon as the first U.S. case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus was reported in San Francisco, California officials began sounding the same message: Don’t panic.
“We are not surprised by this. This was predictable. This was predicted,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in...
California has passed the 50,000-death mark, the most of any state
CALIFORNIA — California surpassed 50,000 known coronavirus deaths Wednesday, the first state to reach that chilling milestone.
The news comes as a bleak reminder that the recent progress the state has made against the pandemic may be fragile. Most of those deaths were recorded recently,...
Salinas Valley Health unveils Rose River Memorial
SALINAS VALLEY — Salinas Valley Health and Healing Together hosted the Monterey County dedication of the Rose River Memorial art project to recognize the impact of Covid-19 and promote community healing.
The renowned Los Angeles artist who co-founded the national effort was one of the...
Uncounted in the unemployment rate, but they want to work
Robert Hesse was expecting an imminent promotion to manager of Sub Zero Ice Cream, a nitrogen ice cream shop in Ventura, California, when it shut down in March because of the pandemic.
“I like to work,” said Hesse, a college graduate who turns 26 on...
California surpasses New York in coronavirus deaths
CALIFORNIA — Dozens of times a day in COVID-19 wards across California, a scene like this plays out: A hospital chaplain watches as a death is announced by machine.
Kristin Michealsen, a hospital chaplain in Los Angeles, stood at a man’s bedside, holding his hand....
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...
Pop-up sites increase access to Covid-19 testing for South Monterey County residents
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...
A new demographic surprise for California: population loss
SACRAMENTO — For the first time in more than a century, California recorded a net loss in population last year, a demographic reversal caused by the deadly toll of the coronavirus and declining immigration and birthrates.
The small but startling 0.46% drop — a decline...
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
Monterey County to observe 2026 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
MONTEREY COUNTY — Crime victims, survivors and those who serve them will join communities across the United States in observing the 2026 National Crime...
