Local News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The county’s tourist hotspots—along with its restaurants and hotels—can expect a slight uptick in business this summer from Californians seeking to hit the road for short road trips, according to a survey released Wednesday by Visit Santa Cruz County (VSCC). This prediction is...

It has been nearly two years since El Frijolito, one of Watsonville’s best known taquerias, closed its doors to allow the owners to remodel and expand. That project is now complete, and owner Sergio Carrera plans to reopen the renovated restaurant on Nov. 8. for...

APTOS—Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said during a community forum Thursday night that the two suspects who stabbed their 17-year-old classmate to death on Tuesday at Aptos High School were “gang-involved,” and that they will likely face gang enhancement charges from the District...

SANTA CRUZ—In a future envisioned by Santa Cruz County education officials, every comprehensive high school in the county will have a mental health services “hub” where students can access a wide range of counseling and mental health services. Before that date, the County will launch...

WATSONVILLE—All major City of Watsonville events have been canceled through the end of the year, City Manager Matt Huffaker said at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. That includes the annual Spirit of Watsonville Fourth of July Parade, the Watsonville Strawberry Festival and the Wine, Beer and...

WATSONVILLE—The spark for Kristopher Neil Bayog’s award-winning invention occurred when his grandmother—who suffered from dementia—got briefly separated from the family at a crowded graduation ceremony. The Bradley Elementary School third-grader’s idea was cemented when he saw his father locate his car using the remote key...

CENTRAL COAST—Dozens of volunteers counted 206 species of birds during the annual Christmas Bird Count, which despite its name took place on New Year's Day here in Monterey Bay and in locations throughout the U.S. The numbers will be fused in with the Audubon Society’s...

After 30 people demanded that the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees rescind a Dec. 11 decision to lay off 80 teachers and 78 school employees during their Wednesday night meeting, nearly 200 people who had packed the Watsonville City Council chambers...

Editor’s note This is the second of three stories featuring the challengers running for seats on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees. ••• Gabriel Medina graduated from Watsonville High school in 2010 and went to UC Los Angeles to study filmmaking. He returned to...

Community Bridges and Hijos del Sol, a Salinas-based community art group, were part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday in Pajaro to celebrate the completion of “Life Transforms/La vida se transforma,” a 160 by 25-foot outdoor mural created in partnership with Pajaro residents. The mural took...