Local News

Hundreds of cars slowly filed through the annual Christmas Giveaway put on by Casa de la Cultura in Pajaro on Tuesday. In collaboration with a list of supporting groups, organizers aim to bolster low-income residents, especially farmworkers, during the holidays, with food, clothing, wrapped gifts,...

The owners of the three-year-old Lito’s Lounge, housed in the historic Five Mile House in Corralitos, have always envisioned a place where people could gather, socialize and listen to live music into the evening hours.  That vision got closer to reality recently when the business...

Santa Cruz County officials on Monday advised that anyone who receives CalFresh benefits will receive an early issuance of benefits for February, beginning the week of Jan. 16-20.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Felipe Hernandez, who has served as a member of the Watsonville City Council since 2012, including a stint as mayor, has won the race for Cabrillo College Governing Board Trustee Area 5 against incumbent Leticia Mendoza. As numbers rolled in on election night,...

WATSONVILLE—When the home of the former Second Street Cafe in Watsonville became available last year, business partners Lacey Dent and Greg Bobeda saw an opportunity. The two had originally meant to expand their business, Corralitos Coffeehouse, into another space on the first floor of the...

A new city ordinance restricting where oversized vehicles and trailers can park took effect on March 13. The ordinance prohibits oversized vehicles and all types of trailers—regardless of size—from parking on city streets, alleys, city-owned or maintained parking lots, and other public property. City officials...

SCOTTS VALLEY—A 73-year-old Watsonville woman died in a solo-vehicle crash on Highway 17 early Tuesday. She has been identified as Maria Isabel Reyes, according to Ashley Keehn of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said Reyes was driving a...

All schools, county parks and facilities remain open.

Weekly events calendar for Sept. 21-27.

SANTA CRUZ—The man accused of multiple sexual crimes against minors will remain in jail after a Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge on Thursday ordered him held without bail. Carlos Gomez Velasco, 39, has been charged with several felonies, including assault with intent to rape,...