Local News

Several works of art by Santa Cruz County workers are now on display through the end of September on the first floor of the Santa Cruz County Building.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) has introduced a number of new incentives aimed at attracting qualified bus operators to address an “unprecedented crisis in staffing levels” in public transportation. Thanks to a recent contract extension between METRO and the three unions...

WATSONVILLE—Judy Gittelsohn has big plans for the downtown Watsonville arts scene. For the past two months, Gittelsohn has been slowly but surely moving her artwork, supplies and more into her new studio at 430 Main St. Large paintings line the walls of the small yet...

SANTA CRUZ—Monte Vista Christian senior Daniel Castillo was lights out in four events at the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League track and field championships, including a win in the 110-meter hurdles in 17.50 seconds.  His performance at Harbor High on April 24 was good enough...

In 2021, biotech company Blume Industries (BI) and Whiskey Hill Farms (WHF) became recipients of The Farmer Rancher Grant, a major grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Western Division of Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE). The grant aims to support farmers and...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council at its Tuesday virtual meeting approved utility rate increases that will raise a typical single-family household’s bill by about $40 per month by 2026. The increases were recommended through a rate study conducted by consultant Raftelis Financial Inc. that said they...

APTOS—New Leaf Community Market in Aptos reopened Tuesday morning after a store-wide deep cleaning, spokeswoman Lindsay Gizdich said. The store closed on April 21 after seven employees tested positive for COVID-19. All employees currently working have been tested for the virus, and are cleared to work,...

The RedBall Project, a global public art installation that has been to more than 30 cities since 2001, visits the Cabrillo College Watsonville Center Friday. The display is in celebration of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History’s 25th anniversary. The 15-foot blow-up...

Spring began today and brief shower activity along with a dusting of snow in the mountains helped paint the picture. Tonight there is a 20 percent chance of showers before 8 p.m., the National Weather Service said. On Friday there is a 20 percent...