Local News

WATSONVILLE—Two people were arrested after a lengthy probe from Watsonville Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit helped seize more than three dozen Fentanyl pills that officers believe were being sold throughout the region. WPD spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said members from the agency’s SIU and neighboring law...

WATSONVILLE—Caitlin Bayaca is on track to earn the highest award of the Girl Scouts organization.  The Gold Award is designed for high school-age scouts and ambassadors, who create, propose and lead a major community service project. Bayaca, a senior at Aptos High School and part of...

WATSONVILLE—Work continues on Laundry Day, the new Laundromat on the corner of Brennan Street and East Lake Avenue.  Situated in the former Union Bank (and Watsonville Federal Savings and Loan before that), the remodeling project, which has gone on for more than a year, is...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Community Hospital has a new owner. Halsen Healthcare announced Tuesday that the $30 million sale was finalized at midnight. “This is the first day that Halsen actually owns Watsonville Community Hospital,” Chairman and CEO Dan Brothman said. Halsen was holding a celebratory afternoon barbecue for its...

Leila Veitch lights up the first candle of a menorah Thursday evening at the town clock in downtown Santa Cruz in honor of her friend Ziva Mitnick on the first night of Hanukkah. The gathering, headed up by Temple Beth El of Aptos, included...

Firefighters from multiple agencies deal with an early morning fire in the Vista Montaña housing complex in Watsonville that displaced 10 adults. Watsonville Fire Division Chief Corey Schaefer said the initial call came in at 1am for the fire on the second floor of...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday got a first look at how the County’s supervisorial districts could be redrawn as the decennial redistricting process nears its end. During redistricting, jurisdictions use the recent census to see how their populations have...

With a theme of Stars, Stripes and Strawberries, the Spirit of Watsonville Fourth of July Parade rolled along Main Street on Tuesday to the Watsonville Main Branch of the Post Office.

SANTA CRUZ—An unsanctioned homeless camp in Santa Cruz has reopened, this time with a new name, increased security and a set of rules designed to reduce crime and drug use. Now called Camp Phoenix – after the mythological bird that rose anew out of its...