Local News

The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday renewed the contract for 20 license plate reader cameras—and despite community opposition added 17 additional ones—for a $251,000, two-year contract. Council members voted 5-2 in favor of the new contract, with Mayor Maria Orozco and Councilwoman Vanessa Quiroz-Carter dissenting. The...

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved the contract for a new Chief Business Officer. Gerardo Castillo will make $229,000 annually, along with a yearly $5,806 stipend for his Certified Public Accountant certification. In addition, he will get a 2.5%...

On Tuesday, a small group of railroad and warehouse officials from Chicago—and one from Felton—gathered in the S. Martinelli & Co. warehouse in Watsonville to watch as workers loaded a rail car with pallets full of apple juice and other products for an 8-day...

The Santa Cruz County Fair welcomed the public through its gates Wednesday at noon for the traditional mix of food, entertainment, arts and crafts, livestock shows, floriculture exhibits, collections, colorful home arts, food, agricultural and historical displays. Under cloudy skies and cool, breezy conditions, members...

Many of the several dozen people gathered at the Santa Cruz County Government Center Friday afternoon were in tears as Rolla Alaydi described her numerous family members who have been killed or injured in the war in Gaza. Alaydi was one of several speakers for...

The local Scouting America Unit 505 held their annual Bridging Ceremony Aug. 28 to recognize merits and those advancing up the ranks of cubs to Scouts in an organization that celebrated its 115th anniversary in February along with their official name change to Scouting...

It has been nearly five decades since Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls began selling their iconic pastries at the Santa Cruz County Fair. The stand has become a cornerstone of the fair’s multifarious food offerings, and on busy days the dozen or so employees can sell...

Watsonville activist Omar Dieguez and a group of community leaders announced a hunger strike and started the movement with a protest outside of Driscoll’s headquarters Tuesday in Watsonville.  About 50 people were protesting the use of toxic pesticides near homes and schools in Watsonville and...

Hundreds of people around the Central Coast gathered for Labor Day in Watsonville, a federal holiday established in 1894 to stand up for labor and working families and to honor the nation’s workforce. The free gathering began at 11am with live music, information tables, food...