Local News

Adriana Reyes was 15 years old and alone when she moved from Oaxaca, Mexico to Watsonville and enrolled at Pajaro Valley High School (PVHS). Then, she only spoke Mixtec, an indigenous language from Mexico, and barely knew Spanish—let alone English. Reyes moved in with her...

Aiden Niklaus attended Tierra Pacifica through middle school, graduating with a class of 18. He says it was therefore a substantial culture shock coming to Aptos High School, where his class alone boasts nearly 300 students and the sprawling campus seemed tantamount to a bustling...

WATSONVILLE—Work continues on a new business complex on the 900 block of Main Street at Auto Center Drive in Watsonville. Santa Cruz Seaside Company spokesperson Kris Reyes said the three-building project includes two restaurants, Chipotle Mexican Grill and The Habit Burger Grill. Reyes has also...

WATSONVILLE—After two summers of canceled, postponed and altered activities, the City of Watsonville will be bringing back its seasonal offerings in full force this year. From annual events such as the Watsonville Strawberry Festival and the Spirit of Watsonville Fourth of July Parade, to new...

APTOS—The Cabrillo College Governing Board of Trustees has decided to cut ties with a high-ranking administrator who in December was placed on leave after being charged with embezzlement. The board made the decision in the closed session of its monthly meeting on Monday. The elected...

APTOS—A brief Memorial Flag Raising ceremony was held early Friday at the California Highway Patrol (CHP) office for Officer John Pedro, who died while on duty on June 3, 2002. A flag was raised to half staff at the ceremony that was headed up by...

SANTA CRUZ—The last time the St. Francis High football team stepped foot on the field it won in a blowout against Harbor High to end the 2019 season on a high note. The Sharks hoped that the momentum from that win would continue into the...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project (PVHD) announced Thursday that Watsonville-based berry company Driscoll’s will donate $1.75 million to help save Watsonville Community Hospital.   PVHD is currently fundraising in order to meet a July 1 deadline in order to purchase the hospital. In late May,...

WATSONVILLE—Felipe Hernandez said that something has felt different as he’s walked door to door in the weeks leading up to the June 7 primary.  People that would have quickly closed the door on him when he first ran for Fourth District County Supervisor in 2018...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A serial killer who murdered 13 people nearly five decades ago—most of them in Santa Cruz County—was denied parole Thursday during a virtual hearing. Herbert Mullin, 74, will not be eligible for parole for another seven years. He is in custody at Mule...