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Several dozen Watsonville Community Hospital nurses and staff warned Wednesday that closing the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit—an idea they said officials have floated amid deep financial strain—would put patients at risk and weaken the countywide emergency care system. Hospital CEO Steven Gray said in a...

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday moved forward with proposed rules aimed at regulating large-scale battery energy storage systems, which if approved in November would allow the controversial facilities in unincorporated areas while giving county officials some oversight when they are...

Watsonville’s interim Fire Chief, Corey Schaefer, shows a sampling of the new toys that locals donated first-ever Fill the Fire Truck Toy Drive Dec 13 at Fire Station 1. “We had a good showing and we’re pleased with today's outcome,” Schaefer said. The toys...

Outgoing Watsonville Mayor Maria Orozco on Tuesday handed her gavel to Kristal Salcido, as the Mayor Pro Tempore seat went to Casey Clark. Under Watsonville ordinance, the council members rotate through the mayor positions every December. Before she ceded her seat, Orozco said she completed 26...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

The annual Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour, which showcases dozens of artists around the county in their studios, is set to welcome the public starting Oct. 4. To prime the public with a wide range of what’s on deck, the Pajaro Valley Arts...

After years of holding performances in their school’s wrestling room and in various spaces around campus, students at Pajaro Valley High School now have a new theater—albeit a temporary one—as they await future construction of a performing arts center. District officials—along with elected leaders from...