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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...

The causes of food insecurity are complex, but research suggests that health, housing and employment are key factors.  Feeding America—the country’s largest hunger relief organization—reports that annual healthcare costs for food-insecure adults are on average $1,834 higher than food-secure adults. Food insecurity, as defined by...

Watsonville Community Hospital seeks community input Watsonville Community Hospital is hosting a town-hall-style event for area residents to hear what’s happening at the hospital and give their input about their hopes and wishes for the hospital, now that it is community-owned.  The event takes place July...

Open Farm Tours (OFT) returns Oct. 8 and 9, offering the community a chance to visit organic farms, meet local farmers and learn about how their food is grown. The event, which has been held for the past nine years, is more than doubling the...

WATSONVILLE—Two disaster recovery centers are now open in Watsonville and in Pajaro to help Pajaro flood victims navigate the relief programs available to them. One center is open daily from 9am to 7pm at Old City Hall, 250 Main St. in Watsonville. There, residents can...

PAJARO—Work crews have temporarily plugged a breach in the Pajaro River levee that allowed torrents of water to flood the tiny town of Pajaro and surrounding farmland on March 11, and officials in Monterey County are now banking on a law that allows the...

Wildfires in the county’s unincorporated regions have stayed relatively low for this time of year, with just 71 vegetation fires so far in 2023 in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, compared to 107 for the same time period last year. That’s according to Nate...

MOSS LANDING — A long line of hungry customers stretched out the door of Phil’s Fish Market and Eatery in Moss Landing Monday, the last day of the popular restaurant. For 22 years the business has seen a steady flow of customers, many repeats, at...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police on Friday arrested a 17-year-old Pajaro Valley High School student after he was found to be in possession of a loaded gun. According to Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido, school officials called police just before 11am with a report that a student was...