Local News

WATSONVILLE—In a gathering outside of the Civic Plaza in downtown Watsonville on May 28, mayor Jimmy Dutra and the city of Watsonville raised the rainbow Pride Flag in honor of LGBTQ Pride Month. Celebrated annually in June, Pride Month acknowledges the 1969 Stonewall Riots in...

WATSONVILLE—A temporary protected bike and pedestrian path on Green Valley Road between Amesti Road and Pinto Lake City Park officially opened May 28.  The path, installed by the County of Santa Cruz, serves as a preview for area residents and students of nearby Amesti Elementary School...

WATSONVILLE—St. Francis High School (SFHS) was a big part of Maureen Kelly’s life even before she enrolled as a student there. Her father was a basketball coach for the school, and her older siblings had all attended. So when she arrived, it was like coming...

WATSONVILLE—An alleged Watsonville gang member was arrested Thursday, and a handgun was taken off the street following the service of a search warrant. Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said officers from the Special Investigations Unit arrested Rigoberto Lopez, 28, for being a felon in possession...

WATSONVILLE—Jesus Morales and Wendy Ortega are among 82 students that graduated Thursday from Watsonville/Aptos/Santa Cruz Adult Education, earning high school diplomas, GEDs, clinical medical assistant and certified nursing certificates and U.S. citizenship, among other certifications. Their stories are examples of the people who come to...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of trustees on Wednesday took another step toward revamping its bylaws with the first reading of a series of recommended changes. The trustees will vote on approving the changes during the June 9 meeting. If approved, trustees who miss...

A Bombardier Global Express 600 corporate jet sits on the tarmac at Watsonville Municipal Airport on May 21. Airplane aficionados said it is the largest aircraft to land at the airport since 2007 when a C-17 military transport jet touched down during an air...

For 20 years the Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) has been celebrating bicycles through art, film and music. Originating in New York, it has popped up in 100 cities across the globe, from Paris and Tokyo to Istanbul and Mexico City. And now the festival is...

The Save Our Shores (SOS) organization is encouraging everyone who visits local beaches this Memorial Day Weekend to be an “Ocean Hero.” The environmental nonprofit asks visitors to leave beaches with all the items they brought with them, including trash.  SOS recommends to: 1) Bring...

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man was arrested late Tuesday night after he was caught burglarizing a business on Airport Boulevard. Gabriel Soto-Gonzalez, 41, was charged with burglary, vehicle theft and providing false ID to police. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $25,000...