Local News

WATSONVILLE—Residents who reported a strong odor in parts of Watsonville recently helped county officials create an “odor map” and track down the source of the smell, Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin said. According to Hoppin, the odor that some likened to sewage and others...

Pajaro Valley nonprofit Farm Discovery at Live Earth is inviting the community to celebrate another successful year of farm-based education for local youth. The organization aims to empower young people and their families to build and sustain healthy food, farming, social and natural systems. Children...

APTOS—A local church kickstarted an initiative recently which has raised enough money to fund more than a million meals for Santa Cruz County residents. Citing “rising anger in our society,” Twin Lakes Church in Aptos decided to launch its “Acts of Kindness” initiative. The project...

WATSONVILLE—A 61-year-old woman was killed on Dec. 3 while crossing the street at the intersection of Rodriguez and West Beach streets in downtown Watsonville. Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Ashley Keehn identified the victim as Joan Alameda of Watsonville. Watsonville Police Department Sgt. Mike Ridgeway...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to repeal and completely replace the county’s ordinances governing wireless communication facilities that allow coverage for cell phones and the internet. The new rules essentially speed up the permitting process...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A large group of workers rallied at the Santa Cruz County building Tuesday morning, before telling the County Board of Supervisors they are prepared to strike if ongoing contract negotiations do not go their way. Officials for SEIU Local 521, the union representing...

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors at its Tuesday meeting unanimously approved a plan to purchase a parcel of land in Watsonville, with the hopes of one day converting it into a public park. The 38.5-acre parcel at 188 Whiting Road—located adjacent to...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) will soon celebrate its 10th anniversary, and to commemorate the occasion it has launched a fellowship to support local up-and-coming Latinx filmmakers.  The Cine Se Puede fellowship will support five emerging filmmakers from Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley...

WATSONVILLE—A 33-year-old Watsonville man died in a solo-vehicle crash just before midnight Tuesday on Riverside Road, or Highway 129. California Highway Patrol officer Sam Courtney said the victim was driving a 1999 Lexus west on Riverside Road south of Lakeview Road with a 44-year-old female...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Community Hospital (WCH) has begun Chapter 11 bankruptcy procedures, which officials say will provide the funding necessary to continue operating as the case commences and a local group prepares to purchase it. The case was filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern...