Local News

A group of young people gathered Wednesday in front of the Community Bike Collective (CBC) in Watsonville to learn how to change a bicycle tire. Participants in CBC’s Summer Bike Camp, they were preparing for a trip to Wilder Ranch State Park later that day....

WATSONVILLE—The Santa Cruz County Fair is on the search for a theme for the 2022 edition of the Fair. Manager Dave Kegebein recently announced the return of the annual contest. Kegebein said anyone can submit theme ideas that should reflect the spirit of the County...

SANTA CRUZ—The man who gunned down a rival gang member and killed a 4-year-old girl in the crossfire nearly six years ago was sentenced Thursday to two consecutive terms of life without parole in state prison. Michael Escobar, 36, also received more than 12 years...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel on Thursday indefinitely extended the shelter-in-place order issued on March 31. She also closed the county’s beaches between the hours of 11am and 5pm. Both moves are meant to further reduce the spread of COVID-19 by...

WATSONVILLE—Cesar Chavez Middle School student Regina Molina recently wrote a screenplay for “Forever Young,” about a girl who is reluctant to grow up and move on in her life.   “I think moving on is hard for a lot of people,” she said. “But sooner...

AROMAS—The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County plans to protect nearly all of the 2,640-acre Rocks Ranch in Aromas from development, the organization announced Feb. 11. The ranch has been in the spotlight recently following the San Benito County Supervisors’ intent to rezone a portion...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—In June, Santa Cruz County voters might be able to state their preference on what has become one of the region’s most contentious issues in the past decade: the future of the county’s 32-mile rail line. On the ballot, voters will be asked...

A Santa Cruz woman was arrested Thursday for allegedly slashing 25 tires on vehicles parked on the 2800 block of Soquel Avenue on Feb. 16.

The man accused of gunning down a woman and stabbing her ex-husband at their residence in the Aptos hills on Jan. 30 pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday during his second court appearance since his arrest.