Holiday lights show opens at fairgrounds
For the past year, volunteers at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds have been working to build up the annual holiday lights show.
Now in its fifth year, the show—now called Sparky’s Holiday Lights—draws people from around the county to drive through the lighted fairgrounds.
It is...
Trump’s offshore drilling plans slammed as ‘reckless’
In the past, visitors at Seacliff State Beach could gaze upon the S.S. Palo Alto, the famed Concrete Ship at the end of the equally famous wharf.
Relentless waves and occasional storms over time have destroyed the wharf, and the ship remains a local landmark...
Man missing at sea in Big Sur
A man was swept from the rocky shoreline at Soberanes Point at Garrapata State Park Saturday and is reportedly still missing.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said two women and one man were swept to the sea by a huge wave around 3pm Saturday. While...
Missing Utah Woman found safe
A woman from Utah who went missing on Nov. 6 at Rio Del Mar State Beach has been found and is safe, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.
“Danielle Staley has been located and is safe and uninjured,” the SCSO said.
Authorities did not...
See’s Candies opens pop-up store in Watsonville
The See’s Holiday gift center in Watsonville is located at the Watsonville Square Shopping Center at 1878 Main Street in Watsonville. It opened on Nov. 6 and will close on Dec. 24.
Shoppers can find the company’s peanut brittle, milk, dark and white chocolates, pecan...
Five years a winner
Amesti Elementary School fifth-grader Kevin Bonita on Thursday took home more than a free 18-pound turkey when he won the school’s annual Turkey Trot race.
He also has the distinction of being the first to win the race every year he attended the school.
A young...
Third man convicted in 2019 Atre murder
An 18-year-old man who participated in the 2019 kidnapping, robbery and murder of tech executive and cannabis entrepreneur Tushar Atre was convicted Wednesday for his role in the crime.
Prosecutors say Kaleb Charters dropped three accomplices off in the Pleasure Point neighborhood of Santa Cruz,...
Supervisors delay decision on new battery storage facilities ordinance, add new regulations
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday took the first step in crafting rules governing Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), giving their unanimous approval to a draft ordinance that aims to give a measure of local control to new facilities.
The ordinance before...
Nonprofit aims to reduce & eliminate dangerous pesticides, impose buffer zone around schools
A state nonprofit that aims to reduce and eliminate the use of dangerous pesticides on agricultural fields in California plans to sue the agency tasked with regulating them.
The announcement came Tuesday during a press conference convened in Watsonville by Californians for Pesticide Reform.
Mark Weller,...
Man and daughter die at Garrapata State Beach
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a man and his 7-year old daughter died at Garrapata State Beach Nov. 14 after being swept out to sea by huge surf.
Deputies responded to reports of a water rescue at Garrapata State Beach, located along Highway...
Man arrested for agriculture-related crimes
A Prunedale man was arrested Nov. 26 on suspicion of a lengthy list of agriculture-related crimes including theft of a tractor.
On Oct. 22, deputies...






















