Stimulus bill transforms options for state and local governments
Richard F. Cortez, the top elected official in Hidalgo County, at the southern tip of Texas, is so full of anticipation for the federal stimulus money that is about to flow into his county that he has memorized the precise amount and happily recites...
‘Vaccine passports’ emerge as the next coronavirus divide
WASHINGTON—Cathay Pacific Airways, convinced that digital proof of coronavirus vaccination will bring about the return of safe international travel, asked its pilots and crew to try out a new mobile app that showed their vaccination status on a recent flight from Hong Kong to...
Monolith installations urge community to vaccinate against Covid-19
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Over the past few weeks, monolith displays urging residents to get vaccinated against Covid-19 have popped up across Santa Cruz County.
The installations were organized by Crush Covid, a local group of volunteers made up of retired women (many with backgrounds in health...
County health officials surprised, supportive of CDC’s new mask guidance
Surprised that federal health officials would this quickly recommend fully-vaccinated people can ditch their masks, Santa Cruz County health officials at a Thursday press conference said unvaccinated county residents will have to eventually walk a “tightrope” when deciding when it is safe to leave...
Watsonville officials tackle coronavirus concerns as 3 more cases announced
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Since COVID-19 was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December, healthcare professionals, elected leaders and everyday citizens around the world have been looking for answers and trying to unsnarl the constantly-changing situation.
There are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries,...
All Santa Cruz County schools to close March 16-20
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Office of Education on Thursday evening announced that all schools in the county will be closed from March 16-20.
The announcement was emailed to parents throughout the county one day after a case was confirmed in a person with...
Impromptu airshow in Watsonville
Being in the newsroom at the Pajaronian has been extraordinary these past few weeks with the outbreak of the global pandemic: COVID-19. We are hearing of big changes across the social spectrum, from schools cancelling classes to late night talk shows no longer having...
METRO buses maintain regular schedules
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz METRO bus system is maintaining regular schedules during the coronavirus crisis but discussions are now underway, based on the county’s shelter-in-place order Monday, that could lead to limiting some service.
In addition, the METRO Pacific Station Transit Center lobby and...
What is and is not allowed in a shelter-in-place order
Jurisdictions throughout the U.S. have imposed shelter-in-place orders for their residents in an attempt to slow or stop the spread of coronavirus, casting into doubt nearly all day-to-day activities.
So what is and is not allowed under the order?
Grocery stores and other retail businesses that...
Community foundations set up coronavirus relief funds
Community foundations in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties are responding to the COVID-19 crisis by creating a fund that will financially aid residents most impacted by the coronavirus.
The funds will be made available to nonprofit agencies and will be used to address the immediate...
County Supervisors declare local emergency
In a brief special meeting Friday, three Santa Cruz County Supervisors declared a local emergency, which will allow officials to request state and federal...
