Local News

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville’s Mansion House was built in an era when horse-drawn carriages and motor coaches shared unpaved roads, and served as a luxurious stopover for visitors to the agricultural epicenter that was Watsonville.  The Mansion House, a centerpiece of Watsonville’s historic downtown, will turn 150 this...

WATSONVILLE—Small business owners throughout the Pajaro Valley are feeling increasing financial pressure after Santa Cruz County officials on Monday ordered all “non-essential businesses” to close their doors to slow the spread of COVID-19. The shelter-in-place order, which went into effect Tuesday and will last until...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The CZU August Lightning Complex fires have so far destroyed more than 500 homes and forced 77,000 people to evacuate from their community. Those people have flooded evacuation centers throughout the county. That, coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic that has upended the economy...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—In one of her final acts before her retirement at the end of the year, Santa Cruz County Clerk Gail Pellerin on Tuesday officially certified the results from the 2020 presidential election. More than 86 percent of county voters—a total of 146,857—cast ballots...

A special joint council meeting Saturday brought together Watsonville City Council, City Manager Rene Mendez, other city and county leaders and the public for a discussion of the swelling homeless problem.   In 2023, compared to 2022, homelessness overall rose by 15% in Watsonville while there...

Observations from across the Pajaro Valley and beyond.

Four Watsonville minors, between the ages of 15 and 16, were arrested on charges of attempted murder and robbery following a brazen early morning attack at an Aptos home on May 28.

PAJARO—For more than 30 years, the Casa de la Cultura organization in Pajaro has held its annual Food and Gift Christmas Giveaway, offering families a chance to receive free presents, food, clothing and more during the holiday season. Sister Rosa Dolores Rodriguez, executive director of...