Local News

When classes started on Tuesday for Watsonville Prep School, 180 middle-school students had their own space, a newly renovated building at 18 West Beach Street.  The new space is adjacent to the school's original location in the old Gottshalks building at 407 Main Street, which...

In a little less than two years, a vacant lot on the 500 block of Main Street will be home to a 4-story building and a new restaurant. Construction crews are working on the foundation for the building, which when complete will be called The...

People check out a string of early-day cars and trucks Saturday in East Lake Village Shopping Center during the weekly Cars and Coffee event. The free event staged 41 vehicles with owners on hand to field questions and conversation about what goes into keeping...

More than 200 people staged a protest along Main Street in downtown Watsonville Saturday as part of a nationwide effort to speak out against President Trump and many of his policies. Headed up by Indivisible Pajaro Valley, the crowds lines both sides of Main Street...

For years, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office’s sciences lab has been analyzing crime scene evidence: data from cell phones and computers, tire tread marks and fingerprints, just to name a few. But analyzing DNA evidence—a field that takes not only a science background and...

NEW SCHOOL YEAR Steven Ornelas greets his daughter Karissa after her first day of school at E.A. Hall Middle School. All 35 Pajaro Valley Unified School District schools started classes Wednesday.  “I have a great teacher,” said Karissa, who graduated from Mintie White Elementary School...

Dozens of people gathered Tuesday to celebrate the grand opening of Sparrow Terrace, a development by nonprofit MidPen Housing. Located at 141 Miles Lane, Sparrow Terrace offers 72 affordable apartment homes for people with incomes of 30%-60% area median income, which ranges from $38,040-$108,660, depending...

The Skillicorn BBQ is a major fundraiser to support scouting programs in the Greater Pajaro Valley and the Loma Prieta District.  Since its inception, the event has raised more than $650,000. During the event, 24 new Eagle Scouts will be recognized, and Chuck and Ramona Allen...

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) on Aug. 7 had its first discussion about its Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail project concept report since it was released to the public on July 30. But the commissioners agreed that they wanted more information...

One year ago, Watsonville’s Annieglass installed 249 solar panels on the factory’s roof, a 16,000-square-foot project that has reduced the company’s annual electricity bill by more than 86%. The $320,000 project came thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of...