Local News

Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies are looking for a man who allegedly hugged an 11-year-old girl in a Soquel store Saturday morning.

SCOTTS VALLEY—Cool, moist weather throughout the day continued to help firefighters battle the CZU August Lightning Complex fires, which have now scorched 78,684 acres, and as of Monday night was 13% contained, firefighters told reporters during a press conference. During the conference, Santa Cruz County...

For years, Watsonville Public Library’s Main Street location has drawn community members young and old to find their next great book, perform research or to simply sit and read in silence. And soon, people could have another reason to come. The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday...

Emergency officials try to untangle the circumstances in a crash on southbound Highway 1 Friday.

Observations from across the Pajaro Valley and beyond.

WATSONVILLE—Opening a new business during a global pandemic might at first seem like a risky move. But for Christian Diaz, it was also an opportunity. With most fitness centers throughout the state remaining closed to stop the spread of Covid-19, people have been looking for...

WATSONVILLE—Drive-thrus will be back on the Watsonville City Council’s menu at Tuesday’s meeting. The council will hear an appeal of a Planning Commission decision from late last year that stopped the development of a proposed business park at Main Street and Auto Center Drive. Boos Development...

Watsonville Police collect spent shell casings on the 500 block of Waker Street Saturday. Michelle Pulido, spokeswoman for Watsonville Police, said officers responded to reports of numerous shots fired around 4pm. Officers found shell casings in a market parking lot. Within minutes police caught...

Parts of Watsonville changed into a plywood canyon early Thursday after a bizarre poster started circulating on social media threatening "barbaric" protests in the Overlook Shopping Center. Though Watsonville Police took the threat seriously, no violence erupted over the night. However, scores of businesses...

CENTRAL COAST—Monterey and Santa Cruz counties were reporting the highest Covid-19 positivity rates in the Bay Area region Friday, according to data reported by the California Department of Public Health. The positivity rate in Monterey County was 23.2%. In Santa Cruz County it was 18.5%,...