Key environmental legislation passes assembly
CALIFORNIA—As California recovers from a historic heatwave, the State Assembly last week passed three bills by Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) to help fight the climate crisis, incentivize sustainable agriculture, and advance environmental justice for all.
“California has ambitious environmental goals, and the advancement of my...
Watsonville will fine property owners, tenants for illegal fireworks
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police will start handing out fines to tenants and property owners for illegal fireworks if there is evidence that they were bought, sold or set off at the property, the department announced Tuesday.
Before the move, an officer needed to catch someone in the...
Heat wave will be tempered by coastal marine layer, meteorologists say
CENTRAL COAST—The heat wave expected to bake the inland parts of the Bay Area with temperatures as high as 110 degrees will largely miss Monterey Bay, thanks to the marine layer for which Santa Cruz County is known.
National Weather Service meteorologist Gerry Diaz says...
Santa Cruz police seeking ‘Winnie the Pooh Bandit’
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz Police Department is asking for the community’s help in identifying a suspect who wore a distinctive Winnie the Pooh sweatshirt while allegedly committing a burglary at the Costco store in Santa Cruz in March.
In addition, the man is wanted for...
Local water agency works toward long-term drought solutions
In 1983, a group of local farmers looking for ways to manage the Pajaro Valley’s groundwater basin formed the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA). A year later, the agency was officially recognized by the state legislature, who tasked them to stop groundwater overdraft...
City readies for renewed negotiations with PV Arts for Porter Building
WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville is expected to resume negotiations with the Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) Council for the sale of the Porter Building after no affordable housing developers showed serious interest in the historic landmark.
Watsonville and PVA earlier this year had begun early discussions...
One dies, several injured in multi-vehicle Pajaro crash
PAJARO—One person was killed early Sunday morning when a suspected drunk driver crashed head-on into their vehicle in Pajaro, California Highway Patrol officer Jessica Madueño said.
Officers say the suspect, identified as Israel Cruz, 47, was driving east in a Toyota pickup on Hall Road...
A timeline of the coronavirus in California
At midnight, it became official: California is open.
Of course, the coronavirus pandemic isn’t over, and life isn’t back to the way it was before most of us had heard of the mysterious, deadly illness we now call Covid-19.
But the lifting of nearly all of...
Community Foundation awards over $300,000 in scholarships
The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County is honoring the achievements of 32 students with $308,450 in scholarships, funded by a number of local donors.
Donors ranged from everyone from the Henry Cowell family to individual donors inspired by the ongoing Black Lives Matter...
South County vaccinations lagging as state readies to remove restrictions
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Masks, capacity limits and several other mandates imposed by the state to slow the spread of Covid-19 will all become a thing of the past on Tuesday. And while Santa Cruz County health officials in their first press conference since May called...
Watsonville High celebrates homecoming
Hundreds of Watsonville High School students participated in the traditional homecoming parade Wednesday, which is a precursor to a Thursday rally and the Friday...
