Local News

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man was arrested early Monday morning for allegedly running a chop shop at a residence on Grant Street, California Highway Patrol officer Sam Courtney said. Gustavo Chavez, 28, was charged with vehicle theft, running a motor vehicle chop shop and a probation violation....

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced today that some retail stores in California can reopen, with some modifications, as early as Friday. The major move comes during mounting pressure to ease the stay-at-home order that has largely crumbled the state's economy. “We are entering into the...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville officials on Tuesday questioned the validity of an anonymous letter sent to various local media outlets and past and present city officials that accused City Manager Matt Huffaker of trying to bury an investigation into Fire Chief Rudy Lopez Sr. Promoted to the department’s...

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has reshuffled its offerings in hopes of dealing with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.  While all of their rides have been shuttered since March, the Boardwalk has recently started holding drive-in movie nights on the corner of Beach and Third...

WATSONVILLE—A Moss Landing woman was killed early Sunday in a head-on DUI collision near the Airport Boulevard exit on Highway 1. Johanna Mayapuga, 22, of Santa Cruz, was reportedly under the influence of alcohol and driving the wrong way on Southbound Highway 1 in her...

SANTA CRUZ—The man who was 15 when he kidnapped, raped and murdered 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton and then dumped her body in a recycling bin was sentenced Tuesday to juvenile prison until he turns 25 in October 2024. Adrian “A.J.” Gonzalez, now 21, must also...

WATSONVILLE—The County of Santa Cruz had a soft opening for a new Covid-19 testing site at Ramsay Park Thursday.  The site will initially focus on frontline health care workers, first responders and employees working in essential services and roles, said county spokesman Jason Hoppin. A partnership...

The Santa Cruz County Fair runs through Sunday. For information, visit santacruzcountyfair.com.