Local News

Almost a year after the largest lithium-ion battery storage facility in the world caught fire at Moss Landing, spewing toxic material and forcing the evacuation of 1,200 people, Santa Cruz residents gathered to warn against a proposal to build three more of the facilities...

Sixty five years ago, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges—who is Black—walked to William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans at the onset of her first-grade year through a gauntlet of adults throwing food at her and screaming that she didn’t belong. On Friday, 10-year-old Bradley Elementary School...

In the middle of more than an hour of public comment Wednesday during the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting, Gabriel Barraza—a frequent critic of the district—gave a quote he said is well known in public administration. “Show me your budget, and...

The Veterans Day parade begins every year at 10am from St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish, and typically includes an assemblage of former military members from every branch of service, and from wars dating back to WWII.  Led by Watsonville Police and members of the U.S. Naval...

New LED lights have been installed on all trees along Main Street from Riverside Drive to Freedom Boulevard. The previous lights, which covered only three blocks, have been damaged by street growth and vandalism, said Watsonville Parks & Community Services Recreation Supervisor Jessica Beebe....

A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the Trump administration must fund  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through November for the 42 million people who depend on them. “People have gone without for too long,” said U.S. District Judge John McConnell. “Not making payments...

Members of the Campaign for Organic & Regenerative Agriculture (CORA) welcomed Miss California’s Teen Jasmine Wu Nov. 1 on a special tour of Pajaro Valley neighborhoods and schools that are surrounded by fields where pesticides are used. Wu, joined by CORA co-founder Adam Scow and...

Construction has started on a new rooftop cafe at the Watsonville Public Library on Main Street, a $2.7 million project that aims to give patrons a place to read and city residents a new place to grab a cup of coffee. The cafe, slated...

This story has been updated with new results and with a statement from the Santa Cruz County Republican party chair. Statewide voting results Wednesday morning showed Proposition 50 ahead by a large margin, with just over 63% of Californians voting yes, and 77.2% of Santa...

Dancers from Estrellas de Esperanza prepare to take the stage in Watsonville during the Calle Libres and Dia de Los Muertos event Sunday. Music, food, information tables, bicycle events, Zumba and more filled out the 5-hour gathering.  Organizer Kimberly LaCrosse said the entire event “revolves...