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Watsonville
June 19, 2026

Fully vaccinated people can have small gatherings indoors, CDC says

coronavirus vaccines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday issued long-awaited guidance to Americans fully vaccinated against Covid-19, freeing them to take some liberties that the unvaccinated should not, including gathering indoors with others who are fully vaccinated without precautions while still adhering to...

Watsonville looks to cut taxes on cannabis to compete with neighbors

cannabis Watsonville city council taxes
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council at its Tuesday meeting will weigh whether to overhaul its tax rates on cannabis businesses, a move a consultant and city staff say would make the city more competitive with neighboring jurisdictions. The proposed changes would cut taxes on retail cannabis...

Consultant recommends Watsonville hike utilities costs over next five years

Watsonville city council
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council at its March 9 meeting will see the results of a recently conducted rate study that recommends the city increase the cost of its utilities over the next five years. The study, conducted by Raftelis Financial Inc., says the hikes are...

Photo: Man tried to rob several downtown businesses at knifepoint, police say

downtown watsonville armed robber
Watsonville police detain a man Saturday on West Beach Street near the City Plaza on suspicion of armed robbery. WPD Sgt. Mike Ridgway said the suspect tried to rob several businesses at knifepoint on the 500 block of Main Street around 11:30am, however, he...

PVUSD trustees to question attorney expense; Acosta faces possible censure

PVUSD
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday will discuss whether former board president Georgia Acosta had the authority to use an attorney to advise the board, after she and three other members abruptly fired Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez.

Amusement parks allowed to reopen in red tier starting next month

santa cruz boardwalk reopens
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Outdoor amusement parks in California counties in the red tier of the state’s Covid-19 reopening plan will be allowed to welcome back customers next month, the California Department of Public Health announced Friday afternoon. Live outdoor sporting events and performances will, too, be...

Prominent volunteer known as ‘Mr. Watsonville’ dies

Bill Neighbors watsonville
(Pajaronian reporter Tarmo Hannula contributed to this story. — Editor) WATSONVILLE—Bill Neighbors, whose proclivity to help and to improve his community extended into nearly every aspect of Watsonville civic life—and whose lifelong career of volunteerism led him to be dubbed “Mr. Watsonville” by those who...

Santa Cruz woman dies in DUI crash

BOULDER CREEK—A 24-year-old Santa Cruz woman died late Thursday night in a solo-vehicle DUI crash in Boulder Creek. California Highway Patrol officer Sam Courtney said Chyanne Pilgreen, 21, of Ben Lomond was driving a 2004 Nissan Xterra northbound on Highway 9 north of Boulder Creek...

No contest plea in Watsonville involuntary manslaughter case

Watsonville green valley shooting
SANTA CRUZ—A 19-year-old Watsonville man pleaded no contest to charges of involuntary manslaughter Wednesday for allegedly firing a gun that killed his reported friend on S. Green Valley Road Jan. 7. Santa Cruz County Assistant District Attorney Ilia McKinney said that Ricardo Jesus Garcia could...

K9 retires from Watsonville Police Department

K9 Ranger watsonville
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police Department said goodbye to one of its key officers this week, K9 Ranger. The 8-year-old German Shepherd joined Watsonville Police Department in 2014 and worked alongside his partner Officer Brian Fulgoni, combing the streets of Watsonville—and outside the area with surrounding agencies—on a...
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Aptos’ Kalina Healy shares honors as SCCAL’s top player | High...

Aptos High junior Kalina Healy took the initiative to workout in the batting cage and in the weight room weeks before the softball season...