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Salinas
March 3, 2026

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...

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...

Fully vaccinated people no longer required to wear a mask in Monterey County buildings

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County will no longer require fully vaccinated residents to wear a face covering when inside a county building, the county announced Wednesday. Starting Thursday, residents will be asked to verbally attest that they are fully vaccinated when entering a county building...

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...

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...

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. ā€œWe are not surprised by this. This was predictable. This was predicted,ā€ Gov. Gavin Newsom said in...

Vaccine rollout for teens begins as Monterey County continues to stay in Orange Tier

MONTEREY COUNTY — The case rate metrics are not yet at a point where Monterey County can shift from the Orange Tier to the less-restrictive Yellow Tier, but county Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno said the overall pattern observed is a positive trend toward...

Monterey County’s Covid-19 isolation site at San Lorenzo Park sees surge in patients

SALINAS VALLEY — More patients are being relocated to an Alternate Housing Site at San Lorenzo Park in recent weeks due to an overall increase in Covid-19 cases countywide. The King City site is called Operation Oasis by Monterey County staff, and has 10 trailers...

Thousands of farmworkers are prioritized for the coronavirus vaccine

COACHELLA, Calif. — The sun-baked desert valley tucked behind the San Jacinto Mountains is best known for an annual music festival that draws 100,000 fans a day and a series of lush, oasis resort towns where well-heeled snowbirds go to golf, sunbathe and party....

California broadens access to Covid-19 booster shots

California is opening up eligibility for booster coronavirus vaccine shots to include anyone 18 or older, making it at least the second state to expand official eligibility beyond older adults and people in high-risk circumstances. Colorado took a similar step this week. California’s vaccination sites...

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PG&E warns of rising utility scams during National Consumer Protection Week

CENTRAL COAST — With scams that target utility customers continuing at a high rate, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) joins the Federal Trade...