Local News

SACRAMENTO—California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday submitted his budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year to the State Legislature, a $227.2 billion package that prioritizes vaccines for all Californians, and gives $90 billion to K-14 education. Newsom says that the state now has a $15 billion...

CENTRAL COAST—Monterey and Santa Cruz counties were reporting the highest Covid-19 positivity rates in the Bay Area region Friday, according to data reported by the California Department of Public Health. The positivity rate in Monterey County was 23.2%. In Santa Cruz County it was 18.5%,...

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man died Thursday night after he was shot while driving a car on South Green Valley Road. Michelle Pulido, spokeswoman for the Watsonville Police Department, said a preliminary investigation indicates the victim was driving west on South Green Valley toward Main Street between...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Planning Commission at its Monday meeting will look over plans for a proposed mixed-use apartment complex in downtown. A project from local developers Bill and Neva Hansen, The Residence at 558 Main is a proposed four-story, 50-unit apartment building that, if approved, will...

I spoke with the National Weather Service today and a meteorologist told me that a long dry period was about to settle over our region for a long time, possibly through the end of the month, which is not good, being that it is...

MID-COUNTY—A plan to consolidate two Mid-County fire districts took a step forward Wednesday when nobody from the community registered a complaint. Efforts to consolidate Aptos-La Selva Fire Protection District and Central Fire Protection District began in 2019. Fire officials say the move will help departments...

WATSONVILLE—Starting this month, most employers will be required by law to report workplace Covid-19 outbreaks to county health departments thanks to Assembly Bill 685. Reported outbreaks, defined as three or more cases at one address over a 14-day period, will then be public information published...

Tweeting that the “shameful attack” would not prevent Congress from carrying out its duties, Jimmy Panetta and his peers were back on the floor of the House of Representatives late Wednesday, following an unprecedented onslaught on the Capitol Building from a mob of supporters...

WATSONVILLE—Scheduled clean-ups of the Pajaro River Levee have been postponed indefinitely after homeless advocates raised concerns about displacing people living there, according to Watsonville City Manager Matt Huffaker. Huffaker said a regularly scheduled clean-up of the levee was set for Tuesday and Wednesday. That was...

WATSONVILLE—On Dec. 1, the East Lake Shopping Center in Watsonville welcomed its newest addition. Ferrari Florist, located at 928 East Lake Ave., is now the third store for the 74-year-old business in Santa Cruz County.  Five years ago, Brian and Marilyn Piazza noticed that a...