Local News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—It is unlikely that Santa Cruz County will move from the purple “widespread” tier to the less restrictive red “substantial” tier when the state updates its tier assignments Tuesday, according to county spokesman Jason Hoppin. That means several indoor business operations will continue...

WATSONVILLE—No communities in Santa Cruz County qualify for the California Department of Public Health’s vaccine equity plan, which Gov. Gavin Newsom last week pitched as a way for the state to prioritize disadvantaged and Latinx communities that have seen a disproportionate impact from the...

A Watsonville Police K-9 was stabbed Tuesday afternoon in a confrontation police had with an attempted murder suspect.  Sgt. Jarrod Pisturino said the incident began when police got behind a white Honda Accord around 4pm on Rodriguez Street in downtown Watsonville. When the solo occupant...

The Watsonville Planning Commission unanimously approved a restaurant and bar near the Watsonville Municipal Airport on Tuesday.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—One day after Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel announced she was closing parks, beaches and open spaces countywide starting Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. to combat the spread of coronavirus, Sheriff Jim Hart said that law enforcement personnel will start...

Santa Cruz County-based healthcare providers Dientes and Salud Para la Gente recently received a $5 million grant from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation. The organizations were added to the foundation’s Senior Oral Health Coalition Program, which was launched in 2022 to address the oral...

CAPITOLA—Work is moving forward on the Capitola Branch Library on the busy corner of Clares Street at Wharf Road. Currently, workers are installing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems overhead and in-wall, said Megan Blackwell, marketing manager for Otto Construction, the general contractor for the job. Over...

PAJARO VALLEY—About 50 people gathered Sunday in Watsonville’s community room to explore ways to phase out toxic farming chemicals and convert Pajaro Valley farmlands to organic and regenerative farming.  The group of speakers included farmers, farmworkers, doctors, retired teachers, experts in environmental health and justice...

The Cabrillo College Board Name Exploration Subcommittee is hosting a series of community forums regarding Cabrillo’s upcoming name change. During each forum, the top five potential finalists for a new name—Aptos College, Cajastaca College, Costa Vista College, Santa Cruz Coast College and Seacliff College—will be...

MONTEREY COUNTY—A man who used a slingshot to fire projectiles at vehicles driving on Monterey County highways between February 2019 and January 2020 was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in state prison, Monterey County Deputy District Attorney Matthew L’Heureux announced. Charles Kenneth Lafferty, 54, pleaded...