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Salinas
June 20, 2026

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...

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...

Salinas Valley doctors, nurses get first round of Covid-19 vaccines

SALINAS VALLEY — Mee Memorial Healthcare System received its allocation of 500 doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine on Dec. 22, with priority vaccinations of frontline workers beginning that same day. The vaccines were delivered to Mee Memorial Hospital in King City at 11:30 a.m....

Monterey County’s emergency rental assistance program provides nearly $34M in support

MONTEREY COUNTY — Since launching in March 2021, the Rent and Utility Assistance Program through the County of Monterey in partnership with United Way Monterey County has provided nearly $34 million to help keep residents in their homes during the pandemic. The program used state...

Soledad resident and Covid-19 survivor turns 100

SOLEDAD — As the City of Soledad prepares for its centennial event, 2021 also marks the year one of its residents, Jennie Aquino, becomes a centenarian.  Aquino, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Jan. 27, was born in Mexico and came to the United States...

Unemployment claims fall, fueling economic hope

UNITED STATES — The second year of the coronavirus pandemic is starting with rising hopes for the economic outlook — and a long way to go. Positive signs are emerging as restrictions on businesses lift and the pace of vaccine distributions ramps up. But millions...

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,...

Soledad prison tackles Covid-19 outbreak as families protest over health concerns

SOLEDAD — A small group of about a dozen family members and activists protested Saturday outside the entrance of Salinas Valley State Prison and Correctional Training Facility in Soledad. Their goal was to raise awareness of the increasing Covid-19 infections and deaths inside the facilities,...

Vaccination rates are lower in disadvantaged counties, CDC reports

Even though the pandemic has taken a disproportionate toll on people of color and on low-income communities, Americans in wealthier counties have been getting vaccinated against the coronavirus at higher rates than those who live in more distressed, impoverished counties, federal health researchers reported...

Mee Memorial attempts to thwart Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy

SALINAS VALLEY — Mee Memorial Healthcare System in King City has received a federal grant to help improve Covid-19 vaccine confidence throughout its service area in southern Monterey County, spanning more than 55 miles between Soledad and Bradley. Health Resources and Services Administration provided the...

Local News

Hartnell tennis court

Impaired driver arrested after crashing into Hartnell College tennis courts

SALINAS — A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after crashing a vehicle into the tennis courts at Hartnell...