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,...
County releases draft plan to regulate BESS facilities
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...
With new bleachers, Watsonville High ‘Catz ready to roar
More than 150 people gathered at Watsonville High School on Oct. 17 for the official opening of the athletic field’s new bleachers and announcer's booth.
Principal Joe Gregorio welcomed the crowd at Geiser Field that included former principals Elaine Legoretta, Murray Shekman and Nancy Bilicich.
Gregorio...
Attorney General, local law enforcement officials arrest 22 in statewide pot shop burglaries
California Attorney General Rob Bonta was in Santa Cruz County on Thursday to announce the arrest of 22 people who are facing a total of 32 felony charges stemming from multiple burglaries of marijuana dispensaries throughout the Bay Area.
Dubbed “Operation Sticky Fingers,” the arrests...
County Supervisors appoint new sheriff
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously appointed Undersheriff Chris Clark to take the agency’s lead role, a decision that was backed by several members of the public and the leaders of numerous agencies that addressed the board.
This included both Santa...
School bus bursts into flames after crash
Two people were injured Tuesday morning after a man slammed into a school bus holding dozens of students.
The collision on the 900 block of Green Valley Road north of Casserly Road at 7:30am caused the bus to burst into flames.
The driver, a 28-year-old male...
Watsonville City Council to mull revamping plaza gazebo
The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday will consider ways in which the bandstand in the center of Watsonville Plaza could be renovated, and what to do with the antique cannons.
Built in 1906 by architect William Weeks, the bandstand is both a part of Watsonville's...
Tamara Vides tapped for Watsonville City Manager
The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday will consider appointing Tamara Vides as its new City Manager.
Vides served as interim City Manager in 2021 and more recently in April.
She has held various positions during her 15-year career with the city. This includes Deputy City Manager...
Pajaro Middle School reopening kicks off school year
A day before the new school year started, with more than 16,000 students returning to class throughout Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Pajaro Middle School celebrated the reopening of the campus following major flood repairs.
When the Pajaro River Levee broke during heavy winter rains...
Elkhorn Slough, other natural areas, receive $71M grant for climate resilience
Elkhorn Slough, the vast natural area south of Watsonville that serves as a transition zone between land and sea and is home to myriad species of birds—as well as water and land animals—got a boost last week with a $6 million award.
The money from...
Powerful storms clobber Central Coast
A string of strong winter storms slammed the Central Coast over the past several days, toppling power and communication lines, knocking down scores of...
