Local News

Editor's note: This is one of several stories The Pajaronian is running in advance of the Nov. 3 gubernatorial election. Prooposition 3 If passed, Proposition 3 will amend the California Constitution to add the existing voter-approved tax rates for individuals earning over $371,000 or joint...

The Santa Cruz County Fair kicked off Wednesday, welcoming visitors to a vibrant world of “Apple Pies and Starry Skies.” A crowd of more than 100 watched the ribbon-cutting ceremony after hearing welcoming words and gratitude for those who made it happen. As the crowd gathered...

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected a proposed ordinance that would have allowed voters to have a say when companies want to build AI data centers in the unincorporated parts of the county. Board Chair Monica Martinez, along with supervisors Manu...

Jaime Espinoza, lead singer of the popular Mexican band Los Fugitivos, welcomes 5-year-old Kimberlyn Hernandez to the stage Sunday during the annual Mexican Independence Day celebration in downtown Watsonville. Kimberlyn brought two of the band's CDs to get them autographed. The free, six-hour event—held...

Members of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers have ratified a three-year labor agreement with Pajaro Valley Unified School District, moving the contract one step closer to final approval. The agreement now heads to the PVUSD Board of Trustees for consideration. PVFT President Brandon Diniz...

A quarter-century ago, our world changed drastically. The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks were a coordinated operation in which terrorists seized control of four commercial airliners. Two were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, while a third struck the Pentagon in...

The annual Mexican Independence Day Festival is set for Sunday in downtown Watsonville Sunday. Put on by Fiestas Patrias, the free event will feature live music, food booths, arts and crafts and information tables spread out around Watsonville Plaza and surrounding streets.  This year the...

Hundreds of LGBTQ+ students, their families, educators and allies from throughout the Central Coast will gather at Watsonville High School Sept. 26 for the Rainbow Conference, a day organizers say is designed to build community, share resources and celebrate young people. For Katherine Figueroa, 15,...

The Watsonville City Council on Sept. 8 unanimously approved a five-year plan for spending roughly $2.8 million in Measure Q funds, but rejected a proposal to spend $40,000 on another study of water quality problems at Pinto Lake. Instead, council members directed the money toward...

On Tuesday, Watsonville Community Hospital announced the installation of new MRI and CT imaging systems, purchased with funding from the Measure N bond, both of which will be available for patient use later this month.  The new equipment replaces the aging equipment that was increasingly...