Local News

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested two men suspected of killing a fellow inmate in a cell at Santa Cruz Main Jail designated for active gang members. Mario Lozano, 33, of Santa Cruz and Jason Cortez, 25, of Watsonville, face murder charges for...

Watsonville voters on Tuesday approved Measure V, which will allow all residents to serve on the city’s commissions. This includes the Parks and Recreation, Personnel, Library and Planning commissions.  Previously under Watsonville’s current rules, only registered voters could serve in those positions. Supporters say the change will...

A California Highway Patrol officer surveys the damage where a Chevrolet 1500 pickup slammed into a Buick LaCrosse on San Andreas Road Thursday. CHP officer Fred Smith said the male driver of the pickup, that was traveling south of San Andreas Road, appeared to...

More than 100 people take part in a highly energized dance Saturday evening at the Seascape Golf Course during the annual Memory of Hank deDiego Zumba for Autism.

WATSONVILLE—An inmate at the Rountree Medium Facility on the outskirts of Watsonville escaped Friday afternoon, leading to an intensive search that ended with his capture later the same day. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashley Keehn said Christopher Dicochea escaped around 3:45pm from the correctional center on...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County is days away from being placed on the California Department of Public Health’s Monitoring List and facing further economic restrictions, County Health Officer Gail Newel said at Thursday morning’s press conference. With 531 active Covid-19 cases as of Thursday—and more...

In the not-too-distant past, bicyclists and pedestrians traveling along Green Valley Road did so within an arms-reach of traffic along the busy corridor. That has changed with the completion of the Green Valley Road Multi-Use Trail Project, a wide, two-mile pathway with enough room for...

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District announced last week that student-athletes will be allowed to participate in athletic conditioning and workouts starting Monday. Pajaro Valley High School athletic director Joe Manfre said the decision will give coaches a chance to see their students once again and...

Nancy Russell’s “art house” in Moss Landing stands a chance of being one of the most outlandish stops on the upcoming 29th Annual Monterey County Artists Studio Tour.  “I’m looking forward to the tour this year,” Russell said at the front door of her home,...