Local News

WATSONVILLE—When health officials on March 16 laid out new orders for all Santa Cruz County residents to stay at home as a precaution against the spread of the novel coronavirus, it was meant for everyone. For some Pajaro Valley seniors, the blanket 24/7 rule...

As part of Engineer’s Week, the engineering crew with the City of Watsonville staged their 17th annual egg drop contest Wednesday. People from local groups, offices and schools tested their skills in wrapping an egg in various materials and then hurling it off the...

I saw groups of people hanging out in the City Plaza downtown today. Scores of shoppers came and went from the Target store on Main Street. At times traffic looked near normal along Main Street and Freedom Boulevard. I saw a line of about...

A firefighter keeps the water flowing to firefighters trying to tackle a small wildland fire that broke out Monday behind the 500 block of Ohlone Parkway. The 1:30pm blaze worked its way through dry grass, brush and a stand of eucalyptus trees but no...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—When the county’s first shelter-in-place order went into effect on March 16, the Santa Cruz Symphony (SCS) immediately took action. Recognizing that it was unlikely Spring performances could be held, SCS set up the Musician Relief Fund, seeded by $20,000 from its general...

WATSONVILLE—April Bennett was only about 2 years old when she went up on a stage with her father, Steve Bennett for the very first time. Steve was in the house band at Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton for many years, and April would often join...

WATSONVILLE—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Saturday arrested a man after a brief chase on a stolen motorcycle that had swapped plates. Alejandro Villarreal, 33, was charged with evading police, receiving stolen property and drug possession. He also faces charges for driving while his license...