Local News

WATSONVILLE—Breaking from the usual modus operandi of allowing her colleagues to ask their questions and voice their concerns first, Watsonville Mayor Ari Parker started the city council’s questioning of a $25 million reimaging of downtown Watsonville’s street landscape. The people she’s talked to, the...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday heard the first reading of a new district policy which, if adopted on second reading on Sept. 28, would add several religious holidays during which district officials and teachers would not schedule events. PVUSD...

SAN JOSE—Watsonville native Matt Mahan is on the ballot in San Jose and could become the mayor of Northern California’s largest city if voters select him in the two-way race. The mayoral candidate grew up on the outskirts of Watsonville in the 1980s and ’90s,...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—One woman lost her job and couldn’t pay rent, and then found herself in a battle with her landlord, who didn’t believe her story and threatened eviction.  A family financially affected by the Covid-19 pandemic found themselves battling a landlord who raised their...

Work continues on Murphy Road in Aromas where crews are resurfacing the heavily traveled corridor between Riverside and San Juan roads. The $1.4 million project is slated for completion by the end of November.

WATSONVILLE—A new program has launched at Envision Fitness & Nutrition in downtown Watsonville, aiming to support youth by teaching them about health, wellness, stress management and more. Envision opened in 2020, during the height of the pandemic. They began with virtual health and fitness classes,...

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Greg Caput announced Sept. 14 that he is endorsing Felipe Hernandez to succeed him in the November election. Hernandez, a former Watsonville mayor and current Cabrillo College trustee, is facing current City Councilmember Jimmy Dutra in the race to fill the...

Jerald O’Brien, founder of Silver Mountain Vineyards, pours a glass of 2013 Pinot Noir for Michelle Novicio on Sunday during the 39th annual Capitola Art and Wine Festival. The weekend affair drew thousands to Capitola Village.

WATSONVILLE—The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday released its preliminary results of its investigation into the crash last month at Watsonville Municipal Airport that killed three people. While not offering any fresh information, the report does give a detailed look at the crash, which occurred...

Final touches are still being completed at the fairgrounds as the 136th Santa Cruz County Fair, Sept. 14-18, approaches. From temporary livestock pens, art exhibits, collections, colorful flowers and fresh paint, the fairgrounds is abuzz with activity. In the Fine Arts Building, Donna Giubbini, chair...