Local News

PG&E officials halted activities around the planned restart of its battery storage facility in Moss Landing on June 1, the same day it initiated those restart activities. Company officials say they made the decision “out of an abundance of caution,” and did not give an...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear masks in some indoor public spaces around Santa Cruz County after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday morning moved the county into a lower tier within its community transmission tracker. Santa...

Covid-19 vaccinations for Santa Cruz County residents are being expanded to include workers in education and childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture industries, the county announced today. Eligibility will be based on occupation definitions from the California Department of Public Health, according to the...

Crews from Pacific Gas and Electric have begun work to replace sections of a natural gas pipeline on Walker Street, from Front Street to Ford Street in Watsonville. The work is expected to continue through November.

WATSONVILLE—A man in his 30s was seriously injured Tuesday when he shot himself in the parking lot at Motel 6 in Watsonville. Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said two men were inside a Honda Civic at the motel, 125 Silver Leaf Drive, just before...

After 34 years at the U.S. Post Office in Watsonville, Jimmie Nartates wrapped up his career as a window clerk Monday beneath a large gold banner, “Happy Retirement.” With signs posted about his work station by fellow workers, such as “Welcome to 7-day weekends,” and...

Watsonville Fire Chief Rudy López has announced his retirement after 35 years of service to the community. His retirement will be effective Dec. 31.  López began his career in 1990 as a reserve Watsonville firefighter, and advanced through the ranks, serving as firefighter, captain and...

Gordon Leroy Holley, better known as Lee Holley, whose comic strip “Ponytail” ran in 300 newspapers across the U.S. including the Register-Pajaronian, died March 26 when his small plane crashed at Marina Municipal Airport. He was 85.

A new Watsonville businesses celebrated a milestone on Friday, and another is planning its own. Staff of Life grocery store is planning to ring in its five-year anniversary, and Angry Chickz restaurant opened its doors for the first time. Alejandro Rodriguez and his mother used...

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...