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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...

The County of Santa Cruz on Friday released a draft ordinance that would regulate the development of future Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). By crafting the ordinance, the county seeks to maintain local control over where BESS facilities are located, and how they are operated. The...

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...

Dozens of law enforcement and emergency first responders gathered in the Watsonville City Council Chambers Wednesday for a promotional and award ceremony honoring Watsonville police and employees, and a county prosecutor. “The nature of our work requires us to be efficient, moving from call to...

As the federal government shutdown enters its fourth week—and as money the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is set to dry up Nov. 1 unless deadlocked lawmakers reach an agreement—nonprofits across the U.S. are bracing themselves to help millions of people who could lose...

In two decades, Santa Cruz County transportation officials envision a 22-mile, cross-county rail-trail system that could transport an estimated 4,200 passengers between nine stations and, presumably, hook into the rail system in Pajaro that could connect to the greater Bay Area public transportation system. The...