U.S. readies small-business grants as PPP nears end
The federal government is preparing to open two new industry-specific small-business relief programs, one of them months in the works, as its signature pandemic aid effort, the Paycheck Protection Program, nears its end.
The Small Business Administration said it hopes to start taking applications by...
Johnson & Johnson pause not expected to slow county’s vaccine efforts
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Though the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be delayed for an undetermined amount of time, the pause of the single-dose inoculation is not expected to significantly slow the county’s vaccination efforts.
That’s according to Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin,...
Mass vaccine clinic hopes to reach Pajaro, Las Lomas residents
PAJARO—A mass vaccination clinic in Pajaro aimed at North Monterey County residents struggling to find the vaccine will go on as planned Friday, thanks to quick work from Dignity Health-Dominican Hospital and organizer Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance (PVPSA).
PVPSA CEO Erica Padilla-Chavez says...
‘Vaccine passports’ emerge as the next coronavirus divide
WASHINGTON—Cathay Pacific Airways, convinced that digital proof of coronavirus vaccination will bring about the return of safe international travel, asked its pilots and crew to try out a new mobile app that showed their vaccination status on a recent flight from Hong Kong to...
Newsom: California economy ‘fully reopening’ June 15
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced that the state is “setting our eyes on fully reopening by June 15—with commonsense measures like masking.”
Newsom made the announcement via Twitter, and reiterated the state’s plan to eventually forgo the current four-tiered, color-coded reopening system during...
Vaccine eligibility to expand starting April 1
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—All California adults age 50 and older will be eligible for a vaccine starting April 1, and everyone age 16 and older will be eligible starting April 15, the state announced Thursday.
The shift in eligibility comes as the state expects the supply...
Mariachis play on, their music unsilenced by the virus or the deaths
Facing the stone archway of St. Joseph’s Salesian Youth Retreat Center outside Los Angeles, the dark wooden coffin holding the body of Juan Jiménez was wheeled next to a band of masked mariachis. The group readied themselves to play, simultaneously lifting bows to violins,...
Covid-19 variant found in Santa Cruz County
The Santa Cruz County Public Health Division is monitoring confirmed reports of Covid-19 cases involving variants found in Santa Cruz County, spokesman Jason Hoppin said in a press release Monday.
Two cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, known generally as the U.K. variant, have been identified...
Santa Cruz County likely moving to orange tier March 31
Continued decreases in case and positivity rates have Santa Cruz County on track to enter a less restrictive tier of the state’s Covid-19 reopening plan on March 31, County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said at Thursday’s weekly virtual press conference.
According to data released...
Senior Center helps hundreds of vulnerable residents get vaccinated
WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville hired Katie Nuñez in March of last year to supervise the Watsonville Senior Center. Her tasks then were to bring the community hub into the 21st century, and create a slew of programs for the area’s older adults.
But just two...
County observes MLK Day
A large bronze sculpture of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stands in the quad of Cabrillo College in Aptos.
Today is Martin Luther King...
