42.6 F
Watsonville
February 18, 2026

Pandemic-initiated emergency allotments from CalFresh end

calfresh second harvest food bank
A Santa Cruz County resident and Second Harvest Food Bank client who received $281 per month in CalFresh benefits for more than two years saw those benefits decrease to $40 in April. The woman, who asked not to be identified, says the recent ending of...

Pajaro Middle School students could return for the 2024-25 year

pajaro middle school flood
When the Pajaro River Levee broke during heavy winter rains in March, floodwaters rushed into the town of Pajaro, displacing hundreds of residents and businesses. It also inundated Pajaro Middle School, forcing the school to close while work crews and district officials assessed the damage...

High surf pummels coastal Santa Cruz County

capitola village high surf
Massive surf pummeled coastal regions of Santa Cruz County, leading to evacuations, road closures and damage Thursday.  High waves surged into Capitola Village, knocking over signs and benches, tearing open business fronts and cluttering the Esplanade with mountains of driftwood, sand and debris. Mary Ann Orr,...

Watsonville City Council to consider options for crosswind runway

On both sides of Watsonville Municipal Airport’s two runways lay so-called airport safety zones, where development is either limited or restricted. With limited space left for the city to develop—and with mandates for new housing from the State of California—those safety zones will be at...

Briefs: County Fair seeks theme; Elks Lodge celebrates St. Patrick’s Day

santa cruz county fair goat
County Fair seeks theme The Santa Cruz County Fair announced the return of the annual fair theme contest. The fair invites the community to submit theme ideas that would reflect the spirit of the County Fair in a few words. The theme should reflect the spirit...

Santa Cruz County welcomes new Superior Court judge

Judge Stephen Siegel Erika Ziegenhorn
More than 100 people gathered in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on Dec. 15 to watch the swearing-in of its newest judge, Erika Ziegenhorn, who formerly served as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office. Attendees included prosecutors, defense attorneys, Superior Court judges, county workers...

PHOTO: Car stop reveals handgun in Watsonville

car stop watsonville ohlone parkway
Watsonville Police ready their guns during a high-risk car stop Wednesday on Main Street near Ohlone Parkway. Police initially got a tip that two males aboard a white Nissan sedan were handing a handgun back and forth between them, Michelle Pulido, spokeswoman for WPD...

Watsonville woman dies in Highway 17 crash

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SCOTTS VALLEY—A 73-year-old Watsonville woman died in a solo-vehicle crash on Highway 17 early Tuesday. She has been identified as Maria Isabel Reyes, according to Ashley Keehn of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said Reyes was driving a...

Watsonville Police search for suspect in Monday night homicide

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UPDATE, AUG. 9: Watsonville murder suspect arrested after standoff ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Watsonville Police are looking for a suspect after a man was shot to death Monday night on the 100 block of West Beach Street.    At about 8:45pm, officers responded to the area for reports of a...

PVUSD teachers ask for raises, district looks to shrinking budget

PVUSD
WATSONVILLE—A plethora of teachers addressed Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Board of Trustees Wednesday night, asking for pay increases they say would help them live in Santa Cruz County and help the district retain its educators. District officials, meanwhile, say there is not enough in...
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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...