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Watsonville
March 5, 2026

Kaiser Permanente ‘reorganization’ will not affect Santa Cruz County locations

Kaiser Permanente
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A recent reduction to employees in the Kaiser Permanente corporation—about 200 positions—will not reach Santa Cruz County, a spokesman said Tuesday. One of the largest private employers in California, the company has more than 149,000 employees and 16,000 physicians in the state. In addition,...

New downtown treatment center for women in the works

WATSONVILLE—The building at 55 Brennan St. has in the past housed a Ford dealership and Baker Brothers Furniture. Most recently, it held a thrift store run by Teen Challenge Monterey Bay. Now, that organization has plans to convert the space into Grace Harbor Women’s Center,...

Adam Schiff visits Santa Cruz

Adam Schiff zach friend
During his eight-month campaign to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Adam Schiff has picked up key endorsements from dozens of local, state and federal lawmakers. This includes House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.  But while such strong early support is perhaps a signal of...

National leadership award lands in local hands

Gina Castañeda (second from left) works with the girls varsity soccer team at Aptos High School
Gina Castañeda, who founded Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy, received this year’s Kim Crabbe Game Changers Award from the  U.S. Soccer Federation.  She received the award in Atlanta, Georgia Saturday for creating Aztecas in 2008 and for being a driving force behind a wealth of local...

Two teens arrested in Watsonville stabbing

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police Department on Thursday arrested two teens who are accused of stabbing two victims during an altercation on Tuesday. The suspects are not being named because they are underage. Detectives are looking for additional suspects. Officers responded to a report of a stabbing in the...

Watsonville Santa Tour wraps up Friday

Watsonville Santa Tour
WATSONVILLE—Scores of kids were treated to a free visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus Wednesday during the first of a three-day Santa Tour. “It felt so good to see Santa,” said Maria Navarro of Watsonville who showed up with her son, Christian Ramos. “This is...

PV Arts virtually opens new exhibit

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Arts has officially opened its newest exhibit, “Campesinos: Workers of the Land,” to view virtually on its website during shelter-in-place. The exhibit, curated by Gabriel J. Medina and Judy Stabile, celebrates the contributions of agricultural farmworkers, and has been in the works since...

Youth N.O.W. in need of donations to stay afloat

Youth Now
WATSONVILLE—For 10 years, Youth N.O.W. has tutored and empowered hundreds of students throughout the Pajaro Valley, providing an essential outlet for those struggling to pick up various subjects in class or finding a safe space to study after the bell rings. Now, after a sudden...

Green Valley Road work begins

south green valley road water main work
Crews from the Watsonville Public Works Department are starting up two large projects that will affect motor and foot traffic. On Monday, the Water Service crew began to replace a water main in the southbound lanes of South Green Valley Road between Main Street and...

Senior Council sees major cuts

Proposed budget cuts by the Republican-led administration in Washington, D.C. could be bad news for local seniors, with a plan to eliminate Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs, a program of the Seniors Council in Santa Cruz County. Clay Kempf, executive director of the Watsonville-based...
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Advocates warn of immigration scam

Legal advocates are warning the public about a multistate scam targeting the immigrant community, with some victims losing as much as $30,000. According to Claudia...