Local News

Kirt Vojvoda, Battalion Chief with Watsonville Fire Department, hung up his helmet June 23 and stepped into the world of retirement after 34 years of battling fires, car crash rescues, medical calls, false alarms, hazardous materials spills and more. The Watsonville native, whose grandfather was...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police Department has several military-grade weapons that it says it only uses in extraordinary circumstances. That armory includes nearly two dozen high-powered rifles, a few shotguns, thousands of rounds of ammunition and dozens of less-lethal and “crowd control” weapons such as flashbangs, rubber grenades...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—When Ed Delfin moved from the Philippines to the U.S. as a teenager, he was faced with more than just the usual challenges of a new immigrant. Settling in Watsonville, Delfin noticed immediately the underlying issues with gang violence and its effect...

PAJARO—President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for seven counties on Monday, freeing up federal money for hundreds of people whose lives were upended by the storms and flooding. Storm and flood victims can now call the Federal Emergency Management Agency to file a claim...

Elvia Cabrera sings a tune Monday at Pinto Lake City Park at a memorial for Tom Gugale, 47, who died in a car crash recently.

WATSONVILLE—Community members joined city officials, business folks and a team from the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust to reopen the Carey-Davis Community Garden on June 19. With a table loaded up with fresh pastries and coffee to fuel the gathering, Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra joined...

WATSONVILLE—The Monterey Bay Rose Society (MBRS) will once again be holding its annual series of free rose pruning classes at various locations across the region. Things kick off Saturday at 10:30am at the Display Rose Garden at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake...

The 40th annual Evening of Wine & Roses unfolded Saturday night at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Put on by the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, the event serves as a fundraiser in support of health and wellness services for the Pajaro Valley. Guests...

SANTA CRUZ—Four juveniles were charged with attempted murder Friday for allegedly shooting a man as he walked in a neighborhood on Hagemann Avenue in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz Police Chief Andy Mills said the victim was walking on the 100 block of Hagemann Avenue just...