COVID-19

WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville was one of the first municipalities in the Monterey Bay to close down its network of recreational centers to slow the spread of COVID-19.  It was also one of the first to reengineer its recreation department for the shelter-in-place era, which...

By Patricia Cohen, of The New York Times New claims for unemployment fell last week, the government reported Thursday, the latest sign that the labor market’s recovery, however slow and unsteady, is continuing. “The numbers look encouraging on the face of it,” said Gregory Daco, chief...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—When the county’s first shelter-in-place order went into effect on March 16, the Santa Cruz Symphony (SCS) immediately took action. Recognizing that it was unlikely Spring performances could be held, SCS set up the Musician Relief Fund, seeded by $20,000 from its general...

WATSONVILLE—When health officials on March 16 laid out new orders for all Santa Cruz County residents to stay at home as a precaution against the spread of the novel coronavirus, it was meant for everyone. For some Pajaro Valley seniors, the blanket 24/7 rule...

WATSONVILLE—The California Arts Council (CAC) recently announced the allocation of a record-breaking $30 million—the largest investment in the council’s 40-plus year history. A total of 1,534 grants have been awarded to nonprofit organizations and government programs across the state in support of the arts. Watsonville...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Amidst the ongoing health crisis, essential workers who do not own cars have remained reliant on public transportation and carpooling—two options that are both limited and not always safe. Bike Santa Cruz County (BSCC) hopes to alleviate that dependence. In June, the organization...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Founder and executive director of FoodWhat Doron Comerchero said he is constantly impressed by the strength and resilience of the young people his organization serves. The food justice nonprofit announced on July 30 the allocation of $80,000 for those currently enrolled in its...

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Chief Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios told the Board of Supervisors Monday that it should spend $20 million in reserves to fill a deficit for the 2019-20 fiscal year caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. That move will be a sizable slice of...

SACRAMENTO—California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday submitted his budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year to the State Legislature, a $227.2 billion package that prioritizes vaccines for all Californians, and gives $90 billion to K-14 education. Newsom says that the state now has a $15 billion...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A partnership between UC Santa Cruz and the County of Santa Cruz—and funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act—will allow the county to expand its Covid-19 testing capacity to as many as 800 tests per day, county spokesman Jason...