Local News

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a sweeping ban on the sale of various tobacco products. Starting in late November, the sale of flavored tobacco, e-cigarettes and vapes will be outlawed, and pharmacies operating in city limits will no longer be able to...

The Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors on Tuesday approved a five-year rate hike for its customers, which district officials say was created to help the district better maintain its aquifer supplies, fund ongoing operations and prevent saltwater intrusion caused by groundwater overdraft.

Fiestas Patrias will host its annual Cinco de Mayo Festival in downtown Watsonville Sunday with live music, food, folkloric dance, food booths, information tables and arts and crafts. Held at Watsonville Plaza and surrounding streets, the free event in the plaza and surrounding streets will...

SANTA CRUZ—The former neurosurgeon accused of molesting multiple children committed suicide by slicing into his femoral artery on his left groin, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ashley Keehn announced Wednesday. James Kohut, 59, was found dead in his cell early in the morning on Oct....

Watsonville Police Chief David Honda on Friday released this video condemning the May 25 killing of George Floyd. In a video that has been viewed by millions of people around the world, Minneapolis, Minn. police officer Derek Chauvin was seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck...

Police on Sunday were looking for a man who escaped after leading them on a vehicle pursuit in a stolen pickup and a foot chase in Watsonville.  The incident began at Main Street at Freedom Boulevard around 10:30am when Watsonville Police Capt. Jarrod Pisturino spotted...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—After nearly three decades running the county’s elections department, Santa Cruz County Clerk Gail Pellerin will retire at the end of the year. Pellerin made the announcement Thursday, a little more than a week after what many are calling the most significant election...

WATSONVILLE—In a bizarre ending to a Tuesday night public meeting that puzzled and agitated a majority of the Watsonville Planning Commission, the body gave no recommendation on whether a Watsonville charter school should be allowed to continue to operate in an industrial zone on...

Santa Claus greets Tricia and Oliver Potts of Watsonville (center) and others Saturday during the Aptos Holiday Craft Fair and Tree Lighting in Aptos Village.

The next phase of “Watsonville Brillante,” the massive mosaic project splashed across the exterior walls of the six-story Civic Plaza parking garage in downtown Watsonville, is currently being installed. Lead artist Kathleen Crocetti added that the scaffolding and netting that covers the project will...