Local News

Heavy surf on Monday smashed into the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, shearing off a 125-foot section off the end and sending an already-closed business into the ocean, along with a public restroom and two pieces of heavy construction equipment. Emergency officials rescued several people who...

WATSONVILLE — A routine car stop led to an important break and a recovery of a loaded gun for Watsonville Police Friday. Sgt. Juan Trujillo of the Watsonville Police Investigations Unit said officer Aaron Chavarria pulled over a maroon Mercedes Benz E320 just after 10...

Members of the Campaign for Organic & Regenerative Agriculture (CORA) welcomed Miss California’s Teen Jasmine Wu Nov. 1 on a special tour of Pajaro Valley neighborhoods and schools that are surrounded by fields where pesticides are used. Wu, joined by CORA co-founder Adam Scow and...

WATSONVILLE—As lunchtime drew to a close Wednesday, fourth- and fifth-grade students at Starlight Elementary School began to gradually filter into the classroom of art teacher Meredith Branan Freeman. They were there to learn about stop-motion animation and create their own movies. Some students worked individually,...

CAPITOLA—The Capitola Police Department is asking for the public’s help to identify the owner or location of a vehicle involved in the robbery of an armored truck Wednesday in Capitola. The vehicle is a black 2010-2015 body Toyota Tacoma SR5. Identifying features include: slight lift...

Classes from Gavilan and Cabrillo colleges have joined forces to present a ceramics exhibit at the Gilroy Center for the Arts. The exhibit runs through May at 7341 Monterey St. in downtown Gilroy, with a reception on May 19 from 5-8pm. Students from the two colleges,...

Watsonville Police on Tuesday arrested a murder suspect after an hours-long standoff in a strawberry field near Trafton and McGowan roads, just outside Pájaro. Hector Rocha, 44, of Watsonville, has been charged with first-degree murder. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail, where he...

The completion of phase one of the historic restoration of the Porter Vallejo Mansion and Public Library branch was celebrated June 12 in Pajaro, a major chapter in the town’s ongoing recovery from the March, 2023 flood.  The extensive renovation work was recognized as Project...

Karina Ahumada waves a Mexican flag next to a 1964 Cadillac owned by Rene Sanchez on Brennan Street Thursday, which was Mexican Independence Day. In Mexican history, the day commemorates the moment when Father Hidalgo, a priest and leader, called for Mexico's liberation from...