Local News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—With a Sept. 30 deadline to complete the nationwide 2020 Census, the federal agency has its hands full making sure every resident is counted. But that can be difficult when residents have been evacuated due to an emergency such as the CZU August...

Angel Gomez said his passion for vehicles started at a young age.

WATSONVILLE—A fire that severely damaged St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish on Oct. 17 was arson, Watsonville Police Department confirmed Tuesday. Church officials say they have video footage of the arson occurring. It was not clear Tuesday afternoon if there is any suspect information. Pastor Jason Simas said in...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police on Tuesday arrested a Watsonville man for a fatal shooting near Ramsay Park from last year. Julio Sanchez, 22, has been charged with murder. He was already in custody in Santa Cruz County Jail for vehicle theft and other charges. He is being...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police are searching for a man who they believe is the primary suspect in his wife’s murder. Police believe that Cesar Hernandez, 47, murdered his 24-year-old wife at their Watsonville home on the 700 block of Rodriguez Street, and then drove her in the...

WATSONVILLE—Laura Segura has dedicated her career to combating domestic violence, and empowering victims to find within themselves the strength to end abusive relationships. Now, the executive director of Monarch Services is back from a 54-week hiatus, having tapped her own inner well of strength to...

This Friday from 5–7 p.m., Ann Soldo Elementary will host this year’s Fall Festival. The fundraiser is open to the community and will include a barbecue, silent auction, games, dancing and more.

WATSONVILLE—Breaking from the usual modus operandi of allowing her colleagues to ask their questions and voice their concerns first, Watsonville Mayor Ari Parker started the city council’s questioning of a $25 million reimaging of downtown Watsonville’s street landscape. The people she’s talked to, the...

The protests that initially broke out after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police on May 25 continue, with Black Lives Matter activists across the world calling for racial equality and police reform. The movement inspired Marcus Baskerville, owner of Weathered Souls Brewing Company...

The Watsonville City Council in March will consider either shortening the crosswind runway at Watsonville Municipal Airport—or deactivating it altogether—which is the airport’s effort to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines and keep its pilots safe. That was the message to the City Council Tuesday...