Local News

Santa Cruz County is moving to the looser restrictions of the Yellow Tier starting Wednesday, May 19, county health officials announced Tuesday.  Here are some of the key changes that will start Wednesday, according to the county’s press release: Bars may open indoors at 25% capacity, or...

Garrett Lee notched three goals for the hat trick in a 5-3 win against Ceiba College Prep in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play on Thursday. The junior left winger scored twice in the first half and picked up a crucial goal near the 60th...

WATSONVILLE—Aptos baseball coach Jason Biancardi said it's never easy beating the same opponent twice, especially when the second meeting is at their place.   But a strong pitching performance combined with a nearly flawless defense and a dash of offensive firepower guided the Mariners to a...

There is now a new way to assemble your own bouquet of roses, thanks to a pick-your-own rose venue at Birdsong Orchards in Watsonville. Owner Nadine Schaeffer said she is growing dozens of varieties of roses on her 8-acre parcel where she also tends to...

Patrick and Teresa Royan were living in Los Gatos when they first discovered Pleasant Valley, a rural area in Aptos permeated with rolling hills, orchards, vineyards and pastures. The couple had been looking for a place to settle relatively close to the beach yet...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on May 11 voted unanimously to delay a 25-cent fee for disposable cups at businesses in the unincorporated parts of the county until January 2022. County officials crafted the ordinance to reduce the amount of disposable...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The loud boom that echoed over much of Santa Cruz County late Thursday evening—and the fireball streaking across the sky that accompanied it—was probably a piece of natural space debris roughly the size of a volleyball that entered the earth’s atmosphere and...

WATSONVILLE—Roaring Camp Railroads has struck a deal with Progressive Rail to provide freight services for Watsonville businesses. Santa Cruz Big Trees and Pacific Railway, a subsidiary of Roaring Camp, announced the deal on April 30 in a press release. Roaring Camp CEO Melani Clark said the...

Surprised that federal health officials would this quickly recommend fully-vaccinated people can ditch their masks, Santa Cruz County health officials at a Thursday press conference said unvaccinated county residents will have to eventually walk a “tightrope” when deciding when it is safe to leave...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—When Sandra Nichols was elected to the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) Board of Trustees, the long-time educator—known for being well-prepared for meetings—says she made it a point to attend every one. In her time on the PVUSD board, which lasted from...