Local News

Organizers at the Santa Cruz County Fair are asking the public for ideas for a theme for the 2026 County Fair. Anyone who has a “phrase that pops” or a “rhyme that shines” is invited to submit it. “Imagine your words splashed across every poster and...

This story has been updated with quotes from people who attended the event. Protests erupted across the United States on Saturday following President Donald Trump’s military attack on Venezuela late Friday. Demonstrations were held throughout the Monterey Bay region, including in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Salinas and...

Thomas James Paul Watson became Watsonville’s first baby of the new year, weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 20 inches long when he was born at 3:36 a.m. He is the first child for mother Zenaida Mena, 27, and Nick Watson, 29. Swaddled and...

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13 will review proposed rules governing large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), which are expected to allow the controversial facilities to be built in unincorporated areas of the county while giving local officials a measure...

A worker from Jocelyn Bakery at 3 San Juan Road in Pajaro, serves samples of Roscas de los Reyes, or King’s Bread at the Watsonville Certified Farmers Market. The bread stems from a long Mexican tradition on Jan. 6 known as Día de los...

A group of local residents, businesses and organizations pooled their efforts last week to serve hot meals and provide warm clothing and other goods to those in need in Pajaro. The project, headed up by Victor and Norma Aguirre and staged in the parking lot...

As the new year approaches, we take a look at the stories and imagesthat captured the most attention over the past year. All photos are by Pajaronian photographer Tarmo Hannula. January TERMINAL CONDITION The year started off with a literal bang, as the battery energy storage system...

The Monterey Bay region is expected to see a wet start to the new year, with several days of rain, fog and an elevated risk of coastal flooding affecting low-lying areas near Watsonville through the weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood...

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has identified the woman who died after reportedly being bitten by a shark as 55-year-old Erica Fox. Sheriff’s officials said Fox’s body was found near Davenport Beach on Saturday around 2pm along the rugged coastline north of Santa Cruz....

The City of Watsonville has named longtime firefighter Corey Schaefer as its next fire chief following the retirement of Chief Rudy López. Schaefer, a 27-year veteran of the Watsonville Fire Department, has served as acting fire chief since August and was selected after a recruitment...