Residents oppose new battery storage facilities
Members of the community continued to push back against the introduction of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to Santa Cruz County at a community workshop on July 30.
The workshop—which more than 30 people attended–was held by the Santa Cruz County Commission on the Environment...
Supervisors approve fines for health violations, including facemasks
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a temporary ordinance that will allow law enforcement officials to issue tickets to people violating county health orders, including not wearing a face covering where it is required.
Under the new county...
Man found dead from gunshot wound in Santa Cruz Mountains
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a man on Laurel Road off of Highway 17 as a homicide.
Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said deputies on Sunday night were alerted to reports of a man with a gun...
Nerdville Watsonville returns for third year
The third annual Nerdville Watsonville will take place June 25. The event is described as a “fun and family friendly day of anime, cosplay, collectables and more,” by the hosts, Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services Department.
“This year, we honor the amazing anime...
These organizations see a new vision for Watsonville’s nutritional lifestyle
There are about 1,800 nonprofits in Santa Cruz County. These three organizations are sharply focused on teaching the community how to grow, cook and create a healthy diet and lifestyle. Together, they create the ‘three-legged stool’ of nutritional education for young people and adults.
Food...
Lightning sparks numerous blazes across Santa Cruz County
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A lightning storm that began at about 1am Sunday sparked 22 fires across Santa Cruz County, five of which have burned several hundred acres.
No communities are currently threatened, and no warnings or evacuations have been given, said Cal Fire spokeswoman Cecile Juliette.
The...
Man arrested for injury DUI, other crimes
SANTA CRUZ—A Salinas man wanted for a robbery in Salinas – and a DUI in Morgan Hill – was arrested Sunday in a new DUI case for allegedly crashing into several parked vehicles after a brief chase.
Christopher Dicochea, 23, a convicted felon, was also...
Capitola community, officials ask for reductions to village hotel project
Concerns about parking, traffic, water use and changes to the village’s “character” were all at the forefront following the developer’s presentation of its conceptual designs for the repurposing of a parking lot at 120 Monterey Ave. — once the location of the Capitola Theater.
Group urging statewide adoption of childcare safety plan
When Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrest undocumented immigrants—there were more than 65,000 in custody as of Nov. 16, according to the website tracereports.org—their children are often left behind with no plan in place to care for them.
The Childcare Safety Plan Coalition (CSPC)—a...
‘It’s a shame’: Thousands of dollars worth of fireworks stolen from youth sports team
WATSONVILLE—Thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of so-called “safe-and-sane” fireworks that a youth football program intended to sell as a Fourth of July fundraiser, Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said.
The Watsonville Jr. Wildcatz had roughly $7,000 worth of fireworks stolen from a storage...
Photo Story: Two-vehicle crash on Center Street
A Watsonville firefighter cleans up at the scene of a two-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon on Center Street in Watsonville. Watsonville police said the female...






















