Local News

The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County is currently looking for more volunteers to support its Transportation Program, and drivers are particularly needed for the Watsonville area.

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Planning Commission on Tuesday will make recommendations for possible changes to the city’s cannabis ordinance. The Planning Commission’s agenda was not made available before press time, but a public hearing notice published in this newspaper stated the body would be making recommendations on...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council at its Tuesday virtual meeting approved utility rate increases that will raise a typical single-family household’s bill by about $40 per month by 2026. The increases were recommended through a rate study conducted by consultant Raftelis Financial Inc. that said they...

The Watsonville City Council at its Tuesday night meeting solidified its decision to implement a new fee on development projects that would fund the arts in Watsonville. Soon, developers seeking to create commercial and residential projects will have to pay 0.75% of their project’s valuation,...

SANTA CRUZ—A Santa Cruz man who shot a male victim to death in 2018 was sentenced on Oct. 6 to 35 years to life in state prison. Miguel Castañeda, 43, was convicted in May of killing Victor Vasquez Lopez, 36, of Santa Cruz.  The dispute that...

After 34 years at the U.S. Post Office in Watsonville, Jimmie Nartates wrapped up his career as a window clerk Monday beneath a large gold banner, “Happy Retirement.” With signs posted about his work station by fellow workers, such as “Welcome to 7-day weekends,” and...

Nearly one year ago, flood waters from the Pajaro River inundated Pajaro Middle School, closing the school and forcing hundreds of students to relocate. Now, restoration work will soon begin to allow them to return in August. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of...

Alianza Charter School students recently took a trip around the world, all without leaving their multi-purpose room.

Monte Vista Christian School varsity basketball coach Hasan Houston was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of domestic battery, police records show.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — This weekend will mark the third and final phase of the annual Open Studios Art Tour, a free self-guided tour of area art studios.  While the public was invited to view artists’ work in North Santa Cruz County Oct. 5 and...