Local News

WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville has reinvented its Bulky Items Collection Program. Abandoned years ago, the program now offers Watsonville residents a free chance to unload mattresses, appliances, some furniture, tires, carpeting and more. Gabe Gordo, Solid Waste Division Manager, said the program is available to residents...

WATSONVILLE—The annual Summer Fun in Watsonville Outback Cutting competition is unfolding at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Around 280 horses arrived mid-week for the five-day event that drew folks from around California, Arizona, Colorado and Texas. Cutting is a western-style equestrian competition where a horse and...

APTOS—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two suspects in a late-night burglary of an Aptos dentist’s office on Aug. 21. Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said surveillance video captured two men between the ages of 18-30 burglarizing the office. They made off...

TAHOE CITY, Calif.—When the pandemic swept through California last year, Lake Tahoe, the azure gem of the Sierra Nevada, swarmed with city dwellers fleeing to the purity of its alpine air. Now the stampede has reversed. With a fast-expanding wildfire roaring just one ridge away...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council approved a proposed 21-condo development across the street from the Watsonville Municipal Airport that could face litigation from the Watsonville Pilots Association (WPA). The project would redevelop a steel fabrication business at 547 Airport Blvd. that has stood for at least...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday agreed to renew the contract for Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez for another four years. Trustees Oscar Soto, Maria Orozco, Jennifer Schacher, Jennifer Holm and Kim De Serpa voted in favor of the approval. Trustees Georgia...

WATSONVILLE—A new exhibit has opened at Pajaro Valley Arts’ (PVA) gallery in Watsonville, highlighting the artistic medium of metalwork. Presented by the Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild (MBMAG)—a local organization aiming to promote the form and local artists—the show, titled “Reflections,” includes a wide range...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The push to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom is moving along, with 20,000 of the 170,000 ballots mailed to county voters already returned to the Santa Cruz County Elections Office. That’s according to County Clerk Tricia Webber, who said that none of the ballots...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police arrested a teen male and recovered two loaded handguns Tuesday evening after responding to a report of a group of teenagers smoking and drinking at a park in a quiet suburb. Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said police got a call about...

WATSONVILLE—The first phase of the Watsonville Slough Connector Trail Project at Ramsay Park kicked off Monday, with construction expected to run through the end of November. Granite Construction has teamed up with the city to complete the project, which will establish and enhance trails through...