Local News

PAJARO VALLEY—Diane Porter Cooley, whose family history dates back to Santa Cruz County’s infancy, and whose conservation efforts of both farmland and forest helped build the underpinnings of the county’s environmental ideology—and reshape the way the nation viewed agricultural land protection—died Thursday in her...

WATSONVILLE—A 28-year-old man was shot on March 19 on the 100 block of Marin Street. Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said the man was shot around 4:30am. No arrests have been made. Pulido said the victim is in stable condition and is expected to survive the...

PAJARO—People living in south Santa Cruz County and north Monterey County could soon see Pajaro River’s levee system rebuilt, a long-awaited project that would offer up to 100-year flood protection to the area, and be a comfort to residents who have been beset by...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville City Councilwoman Rebecca Garcia has a warning for her fellow South County residents: beware of scammers posing as PG&E employees.  Garcia says she fell victim to a scam and was cheated out of nearly $300. She recently received a call with a recorded message telling...

WATSONVILLE—A husband and wife duo, who together spent more than six decades in education and several more years in public service and volunteerism, has been given this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. Lowell Hurst, who has served...

CALIFORNIA—Vincent Marquez will be the first to say he has not led a perfect life.  He is in Soledad State Prison for a 2008 burglary conviction, serving sentences totaling more than four decades that could keep the 65-year-old incarcerated until 2041. But he hopes to change...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police Department has several military-grade weapons that it says it only uses in extraordinary circumstances. That armory includes nearly two dozen high-powered rifles, a few shotguns, thousands of rounds of ammunition and dozens of less-lethal and “crowd control” weapons such as flashbangs, rubber grenades...

WATSONVILLE—For the past three years, UC Santa Cruz’s (UCSC) We Belong research project has aimed to elevate immigrant voices, strengthen local community coalitions and inform local policy.  And next week, their work will be on display during a special event in downtown Watsonville. We Belong grew...

ROYAL OAKS — A 47-year-old Salinas man died late Friday night in Royal Oaks after his vehicle struck a tree. California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Jessica Madueño said the man, who has not been named, was traveling westbound on San Miguel Canyon Road west...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—As the June 7 election day draws near, voters are filling out their mail-in ballots, or are planning to make their selections via one of the several ways the Santa Cruz County Clerk has set up. This includes possibly keeping incumbent Gov. Gavin...