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Watsonville
February 18, 2026

PHOTOS: Mexican culture and history on stage

cinco de mayo watsonville plaza
These young women wear traditional garb from Oaxaca, Mexico as they prepare to dance at the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Watsonville Plaza Friday. Co-presented by the Farmers’ Market, Poesía en la Plaza and Ballet Folklorico Ollin, the event featured music, poets, dancers and...

PHOTO: Stolen car recovered following chase in Watsonville

stolen car chase watsonville police riverside drive
Watsonville Police collect evidence Wednesday morning on Riverside Drive where a man crashed a stolen Honda sedan into a building following a pursuit that started in Aromas. According to police radio traffic, San Benito County Sheriff's deputies called for assistance from Watsonville Police as...

PHOTOS: Watsonville celebrates Mexican Independence Day

mexican independence day watsonville plaza
Live music and folkloric dance performances unfolded in Watsonville Plaza Friday evening thanks to the Watsonville Film Festival and Cabrillo College’s Hispanic Serving Institution Week. Mexican Fiesta was a two-hour free family event that featured Mariachi Juvenil Corazón Jaliscience from Hollister and Laura Rebolloso,...

Cold weather shelters open in Santa Cruz County

veterans memorial building cold shelter
Santa Cruz County has opened two emergency cold shelter sites in Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Unhoused residents needing a warm place to stay for the night are welcome to stop by. The shelters are located at the Watsonville Veterans Memorial Building, 215 E. Beach St.,...

Watsonville man pleads no contest in 2021 fatal crash

sirens
A 48-year-old Watsonville man pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges he was intoxicated when he caused a crash in 2021 that killed another man, prosecutors said. Israel Cruz pled no contest to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of driving...

Power plant fires explored at Town Hall meeting

dave gabbard pacific gas and electric
Monterey County officials hosted a town hall meeting Sept. 20 to allow residents to get information and share concerns about three fires at the Moss Landing Lithium Ion Battery Energy Storage System. The two-hour meeting in Castroville included Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church, Senator John...

FEMA aid available for Pajaro flood victims

pajaro flood cleanup
PAJARO—President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for seven counties on Monday, freeing up federal money for hundreds of people whose lives were upended by the storms and flooding. Storm and flood victims can now call the Federal Emergency Management Agency to file a claim...

PVUSD Trustees approve retention bonuses, other incentives

PVUSD
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 24 approved a series of bonuses and supplemental payments aimed at retaining teachers and school employees. Every teacher, school worker and administrator employed since April 1—and who plans to stay with the district through...

Student activism nets new dress code

WATSONVILLE—In the coming weeks, students at Watsonville High School—along with school administrators, teachers and parents—will join forces to hammer out a new dress code, a set of policies all parties hope will promote campus safety and encourage a modicum of decorum while still allowing...

Phil’s Fish Market reopens and thrives

CASTROVILLE—Six months after moving from its iconic Moss Landing location, Phil’s Fish Market reopened in its new location in the heart of Castroville. The restaurant has gained a large following of loyal customers and an international reputation for its seafood dishes, most notably the cioppino—a...
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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...