Local News

The 54th annual Wharf to Wharf Race returns Sunday, bringing thousands of runners and spectators to Santa Cruz County's coastline—and with them, significant traffic delays and road closures. The popular 6-mile race begins at 8am Sunday, July 26. For the second consecutive year, the start...

Thirty-eight young people ramped up their soccer skills over the weekend thanks to a cast of volunteers in the Central Coast Soccer Clinic. Staged at the athletic field at E.A Hall MIddle School, Elementary through high school-aged kids ran through drills and games Saturday and...

When Assistant Scoutmaster Michael Baker talks about Troop 599, he doesn't start with camping trips or merit badges. He talks about leadership. “For me, scouting in and of itself is a leadership program,” Baker said. “And so the Scouts go from basically being led to being...

Construction on a proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Gilroy has been temporarily paused while federal attorneys prepare their response to a lawsuit challenging the project, according to opponents of the facility. The pause comes after California Attorney General Rob Bonta and...

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District board voted Wednesday night to renew contracts that will keep school resource officers in three high schools across the district. The two items passed 4-2 with trustees Jessica Carrasco and Gabe Medina voting no. Trustee Joy Flynn was...

Watsonville-based berry giant Driscoll’s is facing a federal class-action lawsuit alleging the company misled consumers by marketing its conventional strawberries as safe, sustainably grown and subject to rigorous food safety standards while failing to disclose the alleged presence of PFAS-related pesticide compounds, commonly known...

The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation is looking for volunteers to plant flowers for this year’s fair. Every year volunteers help plant more than 2,300 flower starters that will be in full bloom at fair time.  “We will be planting red, white and blue petunias...

The public tests their rhythmic skills alongside members of Watsonville Taiko during the annual Obon Festival in 2025 at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple. The annual event is scheduled for Sunday at noon at 423 Bridge St. The free event includes entertainment, a vendor’s market,...

Gisselle Padilla spent much of her childhood translating for her parents, who worked in the strawberry fields after immigrating from Mexico. Years later, she found herself advocating for her own son during Individualized Education Program meetings, frustrated that she often felt unheard and unable to...

Work has started on a lengthy trail for pedestrians and bicyclists along sections of Harkins Slough and Lee roads near Pajaro Valley High School.  Watsonville Principal Patrice Theriot said the City contracted Monterey Peninsula Engineering to construct Phase 1 of the “Lee Road Trail” project.   Designed...