37.9 F
Watsonville
February 18, 2026

Biden administration establishes AI guidelines, following county’s lead

santa cruz county seal logo
President Joe Biden on Oct. 30 issued an Executive Order—a new framework of safety, security and privacy standards governing artificial intelligence (AI) designed to manage the fledgling technology. The executive order came after Santa Cruz County in September became one of the first jurisdictions in...

Woman seriously hurt in Highway 129 crash

sirens
A 31-year-old Hollister woman was seriously injured when her car plowed head-on into a big rig on Highway 129 early Wednesday. California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said the woman was driving a red 2006 Kia Sportage east on Highway 129 east of Murphy Road...

Long-term Pajaro recovery plan will involve task force

pajaro flood cleanup
Recovery planning in Pajaro is entering a new long-term phase, more than four months after the Pajaro River levee was breached during heavy rain. The breach flooded the area and caused widespread property and infrastructure damage.  The Monterey County Board of Supervisors received an update...

Remembering the fallen: community celebrates Memorial Day

For Michelle Martinez Kamalani and her mother, Judy Martinez of Watsonville, Memorial Day meant setting time aside to visit Valley Catholic Cemetery.  With an electric weed-whacker, a whisk broom,  hand clippers and two bunches of fresh flowers, the pair wandered through the rows of flower-festooned...

Election Night: Watsonville Hospital’s Measure N takes early lead

As election results continued to roll in Tuesday night, Measure N came out swinging, with 69.9% of voters approving it. That number had dipped to 68.5% early Wednesday morning just barely making the required two-thirds supermajority. Measure N would provide $116 million for Watsonville Community Hospital...

State seized enough fentanyl to potentially kill North America, twice

CALIFORNIA—In 2022, authorities in California say they seized 28,765 pounds of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.  The Department of Drug Enforcement said it is enough to kill hundreds of millions of...

Briefs: Cabrillo Gallery displays work of retired faculty

Cabrillo Gallery displays work of retired faculty Cabrillo Gallery presents the work of six recently retired faculty from the Art Studio program at Cabrillo College in its first fall exhibition, “Time Untethered II: Andrea Borsuk, Julia Feld, Angela Gleason, Gina Pearlin, Margaret Rinkovsky and Ann...

Farm Discovery to host annual benefit dinner

WATSONVILLE—Farm Discovery at Live Earth Farm, an organization aiming to empower youth and their families through farm-based education programs, will host its annual benefit dinner on Sept. 24. “Mesa: Farm Discovery Fall Feast in the Fields” will have guests enjoying a multi-course meal with a...

Caroline’s Thrift donates $550,000 to local nonprofits

SANTA CRUZ—In 2022, Coastal Kids Home Care provided in-home nursing care for 65 children with serious and life-threatening illnesses, work that also benefited 228 family members. Such services are vital in Santa Cruz County, where an estimated 1,700 young people need such services, says Christine...

Driver dies after chase, plunge off West Cliff Drive

A Santa Cruz man died May 10 when the SUV he was driving plunged over a cliff and crashed onto the rocky shoreline on the west side of Santa Cruz County after he briefly fled from police. California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said the...
7,695FansLike
4,949FollowersFollow
2,895FollowersFollow
LEVEE MONEY The Pajaro River meanders through a course of trees and brush near downtown Watsonville.

Padilla, Schiff secure $54M for Pajaro River Levee

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla announced Tuesday that he and Sen. Adam Schiff secured $54 million in federal funding for the Pajaro River Flood Risk...