PVUSD administrator arrested on sex charges
A man who has worked for Pajaro valley Unified School District for more than a decade was arrested Sept. 3 on sexual assault charges.
Ivan Alcaraz, 37, was charged with oral copulation of an unconscious person. He was out of custody after posting $50,000 bail,...
School bus bursts into flames after crash
Two people were injured Tuesday morning after a man slammed into a school bus holding dozens of students.
The collision on the 900 block of Green Valley Road north of Casserly Road at 7:30am caused the bus to burst into flames.
The driver, a 28-year-old male...
PHOTO: Welcome to the outdoors
Monterey Bay Youth Outdoor Day, a free family-oriented outdoor activity day, runs through Saturday at the fairgrounds.
Santa Cruz County health officials urge public to get vaccinated
SANTA CRUZ—A group of high-ranking medical care providers and officials on Thursday gathered at Santa Cruz’s Emeline health complex, a press conference convened to get a single message out to the public.
“We want to drive home the importance today of everyone eligible in our...
Group sparks conversation about Valley’s pesticide use
A newly formed community group with the vision of reducing the use of pesticides in the Pajaro Valley is taking on international berry giant Driscoll’s.
The Campaign for Organic and Regenerative Agriculture (CORA) recently sent a letter to Driscoll’s CEO Miles Reiter calling for the...
PHOTO: Digital Nest opens doors to careers
Event drew about 200 youths from Monterey Bay colleges and universities.
Pastor retires after 42 years at La Selva Beach church
LA SELVA BEACH—After more than four decades as pastor of La Selva Beach Community Church, Rev. Jane Grady retired Sunday in a special service with her congregation.
Grady arrived at La Selva Beach in 1980, fresh out of seminary and ready to serve a new...
Newsom lifts stay-at-home order, some services to resume
SACRAMENTO—Outdoor dining and other services can resume after Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday ended the state’s regional stay-at-home order based on intensive care unit (ICU) capacity.
In its place, the state has returned to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and the color-coded tier system...
Martinelli’s among brands searching for safer bottle cap options
WATSONVILLE—When the nonprofit Defend Our Health tested bottle caps from 141 beverage brands, they found potentially harmful chemicals in more than a third of them. Two Martinelli’s products were among these brands, but the Watsonville-based apple juice and cider company says it is now...
Students learn the power of the vote at Civics Summit
On Friday, about 150 high school juniors from across Santa Cruz County cast their first ballots on three issues that, if passed, would dramatically...






















