As Cal Fire makes progress on Estrada Fire, questions linger about burn
WATSONVILLE—As firefighters continue to “mop up” a blaze in the Watsonville foothills sparked by a prescribed burn that went awry, some Santa Cruz County officials and residents are calling for the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit (CZU) to answer lingering questions surrounding the...
Aptos woman will serve 4 years for involuntary manslaughter
SANTA CRUZ—After an emotional three-hour sentencing hearing Friday that included testimony from friends and family of both suspect and victim, the woman who stabbed her husband to death in their Aptos home in 2019 learned her sentence.
Amanda Owens will spend three years in prison,...
Photo: 10 displaced by fire
Firefighters from multiple agencies deal with an early morning fire in the Vista Montaña housing complex in Watsonville that displaced 10 adults.
Watsonville Fire Division Chief Corey Schaefer said the initial call came in at 1am for the fire on the second floor of...
Photo: Circus in Watsonville through Nov. 16
The American Crown Circus, Circo Osorio, has set up at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds for a series of shows.
From clowns and jugglers to acrobats and magicians, the variety show, designed for people of all ages, will run several times a day through...
Cabrillo College administrator charged with embezzlement
A high-ranking administrator at Cabrillo College has been charged with embezzlement by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Paul De La Cerda, the current Vice President of Instruction at Cabrillo, faces one felony count of misappropriation of government funds, and another felony count of...
Watsonville leaders cry foul over proposed congressional redistricting
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution to send a letter to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission demanding it not split Watsonville from its fellow Santa Cruz County cities in the upcoming congressional redistricting.
The letter, penned by outgoing Mayor Jimmy Dutra,...
Ari Parker takes over as Watsonville Mayor
WATSONVILLE—On an emotion-packed night that featured warm sendoffs for several city staffers, Ari Parker stepped in as Watsonville’s mayor during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
A lifelong Watsonville resident and an educator for more than three decades, Parker was sworn in by Assistant City Clerk Irwin...
Watsonville couple seriously injured in suspected DUI crash on Freedom
CORRALITOS—A man and a woman of Watsonville were seriously injured on Dec. 17 in a head-on crash between two pickups on Freedom Boulevard.
California Highway Patrol officer Alyssa Gutierrez said Levi Barnard, 39, of Watsonville, was driving a white 2018 GMC Sierra Denali pickup west...
PHOTOS: E.A. Hall opens new field
The mascot at E.A. Hall Middle School gets support from the school cheerleaders Thursday in a celebration of the opening of the school's new athletic field.
City and school dignitaries took turns at the podium to pay thanks to those that helped complete the...
PHOTO: 2 crashes clog Hwy 1 in Watsonville
Watsonville firefighter John Stone (left) joins other emergency workers in dealing with a five-vehicle crash on northbound Highway 1 in Watsonville Jan. 14.
Watsonville Firefighter John Stone (left) joins other emergency workers in dealing with one of two crashes on northbound Highway 1 in...
‘Catz football claws their way back to beat MVC | Weeklys...
Watsonville sophomore Noel Navarro had three rushing touchdowns, and the Wildcatz defeated Monte Vista Christian, 42-41, in Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division-North football...


















