New WPD hire arrested in Nevada, faces assault, vandalism charges
WATSONVILLE—A newly-hired Watsonville Police Officer was arrested Aug. 20 in an off-duty incident in South Lake Tahoe in Nevada.
Tyler Leroy Stephens is accused of physically assaulting a man and vandalizing two slot machines.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said that Stephens called 911, saying he...
County distributing thousands of N-95 masks to farmworkers
WATSONVILLE—The County of Santa Cruz announced Saturday that it has distributed thousands of N-95 masks—and plans to hand out thousands more—to farms across the Pajaro Valley to help protect farmworkers from hazardous smoke currently polluting the air.
Several fires across the Central Coast and greater...
Brazen armed burglary at Watsonville pot dispensary
In the wake of a May 25 burglary at his Watsonville cannabis dispensary, Bryce Berryessa installed several new features designed to deter similar crimes from occurring again.
According to Watsonville Police Department, 12 armed suspects used an SUV to ram and break open the dispensary’s...
Thousands amass in Watsonville, Santa Cruz for No Kings Day
This story has been updated with more photos from the Watsonville event.
Thousands of people gathered at the Governmental Center in Santa Cruz and in City Plaza in Watsonville Saturday for No Kings Day.
The first-of-its-kind event was held in 2,000 cities nationwide to protest President...
Changes proposed to Women, Infants and Children program
WATSONVILLE—The United States Department of Agriculture is asking for community input as it updates its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program for the first time since 2014.
The shift includes offering more nutritious food geared to meet a larger variety of cultures.
Anyone can make suggestions...
Hemp fields OK’d for Pajaro farmlands
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday OK’d an industrial hemp pilot program that will allow cultivators to set up shop just 1,000 feet away from Pajaro’s residential areas.
The illuminated forests at Roaring Camp
A lighted stroll beneath giant old-growth redwoods is now on the list of things to do at Roaring Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
In addition to the lengthy list of events such as their Father’s Day Barbecue, Mother’s Day Brunch, the Moonlight Dinner Train...
Senator Laird helps bolster Second Harvest food distribution
WATSONVILLE—California State Senator John Laird joined forces with the California National Guard and the Second Harvest Food Bank Friday during a food distribution at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.
“This is an unprecedented private and public partnership with a huge helping hand from the State...
First-ever Summer Soul Festival coming to Pinto Lake
The first-ever Summer Soul Festival will take over Pinto Lake County Park on Sunday from 1-7 p.m., with soul star Brenton Wood headlining.
PV falls to Kirby in chase for PCAL Santa Lucia crown...
Pajaro Valley junior guard Juanito Montiel finished with a team-best 16 points but it wasn’t enough as the Grizzlies boys’ basketball team fell to...





















