Local News

The first baby born in Santa Cruz County came 44 minutes into the New Year at Watsonville Community Hospital. At 12:44am Wednesday Magali Elias and Josué Reyes welcomed their first child, Ailany Galilea, to the world thanks to the folks at the Hospital’s Labor and...

A 29-year-old Watsonville man died Thursday evening when he lost control of his motorcycle and smashed into a fence. California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said officers responded to a report of a crash on Buena Vista Drive west of Bradford Road. The man, identified as...

Emergency workers team up to extricate a female passenger from a caved-in pickup on the 2900 block of Freedom Boulevard Friday. California Highway Patrol officer Michael Matildi said the male driver of a white GMC  Sierra Denali pickup was traveling north on Freedom Boulevard at...

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday arrested a man after finding more than three pounds of heroin and several illegal firearms in his possession. Joseph Watts, 65, was charged with drug possession, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He...

WATSONVILLE—If a group of local medical professionals and nonprofit leaders has its way, a newly established healthcare district will one day own and operate Watsonville Community Hospital (WCH). If those efforts are successful, it will likely come as a relief for South County residents who...

Questions on the human and environmental effects from the Moss Landing Battery Plant fire on the Jan. 17, 2025 are still being explored.  The March 17 Monterey County Board of Supervisors’ meeting contained an update on the progress of the cleanup, what some of the...

WATSONVILLE—Two brothers were arrested Monday and Tuesday—about 30 hours apart—after two dramatic chases involving multiple law enforcement agencies. Daniel and Thomas Smith face multiple felony charges, and are being held in Santa Cruz County Jail without bail after running from officers. The first chase began early...

The Watsonville Police Department has announced a growing expansion of community service programs through the incorporation of the Neighborhood Services Division.

Special events 8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival (Jan. 18-Feb. 9)  The annual 10-minute play festival celebrates its 25th anniversary as the longest-running and most respected short play festival in the U.S. Sixteen awarded-winning short plays, from the annual international playwriting contest, are performed and...

SANTA CRUZ—As a crane hoisted four sections of a large mosaic-covered water dragon into place Sunday atop a colorful concrete gateway at an entryway to San Lorenzo Park, new life was pumped into a forgotten chapter of Santa Cruz history. Renamed the Chinatown Bridge by...