Man who died in Capitola fire identified
The 75-year-old man who died when his home caught fire late Monday night in Capitola Village has been identified as Robert Edgren.
Ashley Kheen of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office did not release the cause of death.
Central Fire crews responded to the two-alarm fire...
Pajaro Valley Arts hangs 2nd show of the year
A new art exhibit at Pajaro Valley Arts, “Hot off the Walls: Art to Go!” is set to run from March 17 through May 2 at the Porter Building in downtown Watsonville.
From ceramics, glass and metal works, to paintings, photography, encaustics, textiles and...
County Supervisors green-light SHIELD ordinance
Santa Cruz County’s immigrant population received an additional measure of protection Tuesday when the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance which, if adopted March 24, would prohibit federal immigration officials from using county property or facilities for immigration-related enforcement...
Lito’s Lounge in Corralitos to amp up evening hours
The owners of the three-year-old Lito’s Lounge, housed in the historic Five Mile House in Corralitos, have always envisioned a place where people could gather, socialize and listen to live music into the evening hours.
That vision got closer to reality recently when the business...
Bobeda reflects on a life in Watsonville
Betty Bobeda was born and raised in Watsonville and sat on the City Council from 1991 to 2002, including two stints as mayor.
That, coupled with a career in local agriculture that spanned more than four decades, drove her to support Measure U in 2002...
Photo story: Two teens arrested after e-bike chase
A tow operator lifts one of two electric dirt bikes onto a flatbed truck after being stopped by Watsonville Police on Bridge Street Tuesday afternoon. Sgt. Jarrod Pisturino said WPD has received numerous complaints about youths speeding through and around the Vista Montaña housing...
RTC looks to federal, state government to fill rail funding gap
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) will seek funding from the state and federal government to support construction planning for a passenger rail line spanning the length of the county.
In a Thursday meeting, the commission voted unanimously to request $15 million to...
Pilots Association prevails on airport land use case
A Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge has ruled that the City of Watsonville violated state law when it approved housing development near the Watsonville Municipal Airport without first adopting required airport safety standards.
In a 24-page decision issued Feb. 3, Judge Timothy Schmal sided...
Advocates warn of immigration scam
Legal advocates are warning the public about a multistate scam targeting the immigrant community, with some victims losing as much as $30,000.
According to Claudia Abasto Rivilla, founder and executive director of Salinas-based Latin Advocacy Network (LATINAN), scammers target Spanish- and Indigenous-language speakers using information...
Meeting highlights downsides of BESS facilities
More than 150 people gathered Feb. 28 at Pinto Lake City Park to share ideas and information about a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) a few blocks away on Minto Road in Watsonville.
The public meeting, hosted by Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz,...
Letters to the Editor, March 27-April 2
Regarding benefit caps
The local teacher’s union, PVFT, has been loudly crying during negotiations with the school district, PVUSD, to not put a cap on...
