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When the Pajaro River Levee broke during heavy winter rains in March, floodwaters rushed into the town of Pajaro, displacing hundreds of residents and businesses. It also inundated Pajaro Middle School, forcing the school to close while work crews and district officials assessed the damage...

Bird enthusiasts got a dramatic treat at the year’s end when an extremely rare black-headed gull dropped by Rio Del Mar State Beach.  While common in Asian countries and along the Eastern U.S. coast, the gull, largely white, with red legs, red bill and a...

Artwork by more than 130 local artists has filled the walls of the Pajaro Valley Gallery in Watsonville with Pajaro Valley Arts’ first show of the year. “2024, Pajaro Valley Arts: 40 Years of Inspired Expression,” which runs Jan. 17–Feb. 25, spans a wealth of...

The 13th annual Latino Role Models Conference will be held in-person on March 25 from 9am to 1pm at Cabrillo College Crocker Theater. This free conference is designed to inspire students in grades 6 through college to achieve their dreams for college and career.  Presentations...

Workers with Granite Construction construct a new concrete walkway at the rear of Ramsay Park Monday as part of an ongoing major renovation. The $3.6 million project, which has been in the works for several years, has led to the demolition and rebuilding of...

PAJARO—Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration that would allow for federal assistance in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, in addition to six other counties across the state affected by the recent series of atmospheric river storms. According to Newsom, the...

After a career in law enforcement that spanned nearly three decades, with assignments that included the downtown walking beat, Watsonville Police Officer Kraig Kliewer hung up his hat Wednesday, with a send-off from his colleagues. Kliewer says he wanted to be a police officer for...

WATSONVILLE—Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Board Chair Don Dietrich has resigned his post, and interim Fairgrounds Manager Kelley Ferreira has announced his departure, Board Director Nick Calubaquib confirmed Monday. Dietrich, who made the announcement to his fellow board members last week, did not return a call...

SANTA CRUZ—UC Santa Cruz police are investigating a rape that occurred during a party late Friday night in a forest in the Upper Campus area. According to police, the female victim’s friends found her passed out around midnight after a large party, and brought her...

Live music, dance performances, community altars and family activities filled the afternoon in Watsonville Plaza Friday during the annual Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. Watsonville Film Festival partnered with Santa Cruz County Office of Education, Hospice of Santa Cruz County and Watsonville...