KRKC COUNTRY

According to the Monterey County Resource Management Agency on Thursday, March 19 they have issued an emergency closure of the Lockwood San-Lucas Bridge. On Monday, March 16 the Bridge was closed for the public’s safety. RMA-PW Engineering staff conducted a preliminary evaluation of the bridge and are developing a repair plan to restore the bridge decking and re-open the bridge to traffic. The County’s RMA- PW Bridge Maintenance Crew will be performing the emergency repairs in coordination with Caltrans. Due to the lead time to procure material and equipment to implement the repairs, RMA is anticipating the temporary closure of the Lockwood San-Lucas Bridge to last for several weeks. At this time, the RMA staff anticipates opening the Bridge by the end of April 2020. An enhanced Traffic Control and Detour Plan is attached to inform motorists. We appreciate your patience and understanding in this temporary change in transportation patterns. MONTEREY COUNTY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENC...

The Monterey County Health Department confirmed on Thursday, March 19 that two more coronavirus cases have been reported in the County which now brings the total number up to 4. The first 2 cases were reported on Tuesday, March 17,  just when County Officials announced a Shelter in Place order. The two most recent cases went through Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System as the patients arrived separately and were led to a tent outside the emergency room where it was determined that each one needed to be tested. One of the patients was asked to self-quarantine, but the other needed to be hospitalized. That person is in isolation and in an intensive care unit. In one of the cases, international travel was involved, but the other person came into contact with or has been exposed to someone who had the coronavirus.

March 3 Presidential Primary Election results for Monterey County were certified on Wednesday, March 18 as voter turnout for the primary election in Monterey County reached 46.9%, while the election saw it's highest voter registration level in the history of Monterey County with 195,245 voters. The District 30 State Assemblyman race had incumbent Assemblyman Robert Rivas earn over 72% of the vote, while Gregory Swett received over 27%. In the U.S. House District 20 Congressional race District 20 Incumbent Congressman Jimmy Panetta picked up over 67% of the vote with over a third of the precincts reporting, while Jeff Gorman grabbed over 23% and Adam Bolanos Scow has picked up over 8% of the vote. In the District 17 State Senate race John Laird has over 47% of the vote with half of the precincts reporting, Vicki Nohrden has picked up over 30%, Maria Cadenas 19% and John Nevill over 2%. Over 55% of voters voted yes and 44% voted no on a Measure A Bond for the King City Union School...

SALINAS, CA –  On Thursday, March 19 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) led a bipartisan group of 42 lawmakers in calling on U.S. Department of State Secretary Mike Pompeo to ensure that H-2A agricultural visas get processed during the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 18, 2020, the Department of State suspended routine nonimmigrant visa processing, including H-2A agricultural visas, due to COVID-19 concerns.  Each year, more than 250,000 seasonal farm jobs in the U.S. are filled by H-2A workers.  The lawmakers made it clear to Secretary Pompeo that suspending routine nonimmigrant visa processing poses a serious and significant barrier to ensuring our nation’s food security in these trying times. “We are deeply concerned that the suspension of visa processing, including H-2A visas for temporary or seasonal agricultural workers, will have a disastrous effect on U.S. agriculture, further endangering our nation’s food supply in this time of national crisis.  As such,...

In partnership with all seven incorporated cities in San Luis Obispo County, County Emergency Services Director Wade Horton issued an executive order for all people in San Luis Obispo County to shelter at home starting on Thursday, March 19 at 5:00 p.m. and applies to all people in San Luis Obispo County to shelter at home until further notice. The County is dedicated to prioritizing the health and safety of the community. The action is being ta ken to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and keep our residents safe. We truly appreciate everyone’s patience, understanding, and compliance at this time. Essential government functions will continue, and essential businesses are encouraged to remain open. All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a household or living unit are prohibited, except for limited purposes as expressed in the order. For more, visit  ReadySLO.org.  A staffed phone assistance line is available seven days a week from...

The Hartnell Community College District (HCCD) Board of Trustees voted unanimously Wednesday to authorize Superintendent/President Dr. Patricia Hsieh to “take any and all actions necessary to ensure the continuation of public education and the health and safety of the students and employees” across the district. As a result, Hartnell will close its campuses except for a few essential operations on the Main Campus in Salinas, complying with the shelter-in-place order issued March 17 for all Monterey County residents. The college continues to prepare for a switch to online education on March 23, after Spring Break this week. Following a closed session to discuss labor relations, the board also voted unanimously to continue paying all Hartnell employees as budgeted while Monterey County remains under a shelter-in-place order through April 7. This applies to employees who must report to work for necessary on-campus functions, those who will be telecommuting and those whose jo...

The board of directors of the non profit 501 (c)3 California International Airshow Salinas voted today to donate $2,500 to the Community Foundation for Monterey County's COVID-19 Relief Fund. The local non-profit which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, producing one of the finest "non military" airshow in the country, and that has given over $8.0 million to local charities, felt it was fitting to contribute to the COVID-19 Relief Fund to help provide the much needed financial support to those members of our community that are most at risk in Monterey County. "The community has been good to us and we want to be there for the community," said Karen Curtis, Board President. With the abundance of uncertainty of the near term impact of COVID-19 on our community, the Board of Directors and management of the Airshow remain guardedly optimistic about the June Airshow. "From what we are hearing at the present time from performers, we are proceeding under the ...