Local News

Two people died in a two-car crash Sunday night at the intersection of East Lake Avenue and Casserly Road.  California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said the crash happened around 8:45pm between a white Infiniti sedan and a gray Toyota sedan. According to Murillo, a 19-year-old...

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday in Watsonville, Encompass Community Services celebrated the opening of a new Si Se Puede behavioral health campus on Miles Lane, an $18 million investment aimed at expanding addiction treatment and recovery services in South Santa Cruz County. The project includes...

On May 8, the staff of Pajaro Middle School formally declared a vote of no confidence in Principal Nicole Killian in a letter to Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) Superintendent Heather Contreras.  According to the letter, the decision was reached following an affirmative majority...

Santa Cruz County plans to support a lawsuit challenging a proposed federal immigration enforcement facility near Gilroy by joining an amicus curiae brief alongside Santa Clara County and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, county officials announced Thursday. The lawsuit seeks judicial review of a facility...

Watsonville Fire Battalion Chief Almita Schaefer hung up her helmet June 4 on her final day as a firefighter with Watsonville Fire Department.      The Watsonville native has spent her adult life helping others, a reflection of how her family brought her up.  After attending the now...

The City of Watsonville invites the public to celebrate America's 250th anniversary with a full day of community activities, and events.  The day begins July 4 with the Spirit of Watsonville Parade at 12:30pm that runs along Main Street from Patrick's Church, 721 Main St.,...

Thousands of people lined Pacific Avenue late Sunday morning, many dressed in rainbow colors and waving flags, as they watched the annual Pride Parade. Santa Cruz Pride is the largest LGBTQ+ event on the Central Coast and the third-oldest annual Pride festival in California. Marching in...

“Threads of Grief, Threads of Love” is the current show at Resource Center for Nonviolence made up of 36 handmade quilts that honor 722  infants killed in Gaza before their first birthday.  A community gathering was held May 29 to kick off the exhibit, spearheaded...

Eight bicyclists rolled into Watsonville Monday afternoon on the second stop of the annual Fire Velo bike ride.  Their weeklong journey started in San Francisco and will wrap up in Santa Monica on June 6. Fire Velo is a national cycling organization that promotes physical and...

Early results giving Monterey County District 2 Supervisor incumbent Glenn Church a commanding 71% lead over challenger Ramon Gomez were enough for Gomez to concede the race late Tuesday. In a text message to The Pajaronian, Gomez thanked his family, supporters, volunteers, donors and community...