Sheriff’s deputies nab campus intruder
Santa Cruz County Sheriffs deputies on Thursday arrested a man after he allegedly entered the campuses of two Watsonville schools and banged on several doors.
Michael Rocha, 31, was charged with entering school grounds without registering, disrupting school activities and being under the influence of...
Study shows ‘heavy concentrations’ of heavy metals in soil after Moss Landing Fire
One day after a group of Santa Cruz County residents collected soil samples from the areas impacted by the Jan. 16 battery storage facility fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant to test for heavy metals, a San Jose State University Professor released the...
One dead, one injured in Watsonville house fire
A woman died and a man suffered major injuries Sunday night when fire broke out in their single-story home on the 500 block of Cedar Street in Watsonville.
Firefighters were quick to arrive on the scene at the corner of Bridge Street in Bay Village,...
Watsonville Police Department welcomes two new officers
Watsonville Police Department brought on two new officers to the force last week, a move that brings the department closer to filling its roster.
Lizandro Godinez and Samuel Vazquez recently completed the six-month police academy.
“We are proud of their accomplishments and excited to see them...
County seeking artists for Juvenile Hall Public Art Project
The Santa Cruz County Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services has sent out a call to area artists to create a public artwork for new and renovated areas of the Juvenile Hall Facility in Felton.
The Multi-Use Recreation and Program Facility (Gym) will...
Critics decry pesticide rule as too lenient: ‘Why use it?’
The Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (DPR) held a public hearing Jan. 16 at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas to address a new draft regulation for Telone, a pesticide also known by the chemical name 1,3-dichloropropene.
Protesters say the regulations proposed by the DPR allow...
A new way to view crime: Neighborhood Justice Program helps victims, offenders mediate
Since its inception in 2020, the Santa Cruz County Neighborhood Justice Program has held 351 conferences between people who commit low-level crimes and their victims.
Of these, 319 have completed the requirements to which they agreed, with the others still in the process.
And in doing...
‘Seahawk’ battery storage facility slated for Watsonville draws concern
A new battery storage facility slated for a lot on the outskirts of Watsonville has some residents on edge after a Jan. 16 fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant, which sent a thick column of black smoke into the air and closed Highway...
Monterey County declares emergency
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously declared a state of emergency after the Jan. 16 fire at the Vistra battery storage facility in Moss Landing, a move that allows county officials to better respond to the disaster, and to request state...
A message of peace—hundreds attend MLK march
Hundreds of people came to Santa Cruz Monday to honor Martin Luther King Jr., many waving signs, chanting and singing as they made their way down Pacific Avenue. Their message was one of community, activism and support.
Similar marches and events occurred throughout the U.S....
‘Catz’s boys’ soccer suffers second-half collapse in loss to Salinas |...
Watsonville High sophomore Justin Alfaro scored in the Wildcatz’s 3-1 loss to Salinas High in Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division boys soccer action...
