Local News

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council appointed Rene Mendez, the current chief executive for the city of Gonzales, as Watsonville’s new city manager during its Tuesday meeting.  Mendez has three decades of experience in state, county and city government and has spent the last 17 years as...

A 29-foot juvenile humpback whale washed up at the shoreline at Manresa State Beach.

Watsonville Fire Battalion Chief Almita Schaefer tells students at Moreland Notre Dame School about the risks and rewards of being a firefighter Wednesday on the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Students and staff at the campus each year have welcomed law...

Watsonville voters on Tuesday approved Measure V, which will allow all residents to serve on the city’s commissions. This includes the Parks and Recreation, Personnel, Library and Planning commissions.  Previously under Watsonville’s current rules, only registered voters could serve in those positions. Supporters say the change will...

Watsonville firefighters chase down hot spots in a wild land fire that broke out Monday at 4:50pm on Ohlone Parkway at Main Street. Division Chief Corey Schaefer said firefighters got a quick handle on the flames that tore through dry brush but did not...

After more than a year of closures due to Covid-19, museums, galleries and other cultural institutions across Santa Cruz County are once again opening their doors to visitors. To further encourage people to return, they have come together to create Santa Cruz Museum Month.  Throughout...

After living in Watsonville Nursing Center for nearly three years, Rosalie Strong spent her first night in her new apartment on Dec. 28, a step that seemed an unattainable dream just a few months ago.

Tarmo Hannula: Rain, with breezy to gusty conditions are likely later this evening as a cold front edges into the Central Coast. The greatest chance of rain comes after 10 p.m. Scattered showers, light to heavy at times, are being predicted into Wednesday through...

California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo poses for a photo with Sharan Farias and family members Tuesday during the National Night Out event at Pinto Lake County Park.  The event serves as a welcoming arena for community members to engage and get to know local...

Editor’s note: This is the first entry of a weekly four-part series about the Pajaro Valley’s Japanese community. The series will culminate on Aug. 14, coinciding with this year’s celebration of the Obon Festival, a cultural and religious Japanese event honoring one’s ancestors.  By Hugh...