Local News

Workers are expected to begin demolishing the Capitola Library on Monday to make way for the city’s new library, with construction estimated to begin on Dec. 1. It is tentatively set to open in late 2019.

SANTA CRUZ—Nearly seven years ago, a group of eight gang members gathered in a Main Street restaurant, where they socialized and drank before going outside to gun down a rival gang member at a nearby hotel in a planned attack. The victim, Ramon Rendon, died...

Collin Travers (from right), Saul Valadez and Juan Trujillo of the Watsonville Police Department join Robert Strong as he carries the torch in the annual Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run in Watsonville Wednesday. Since 1981 the Torch Run, a global movement, has served...

A 21-year-old Watsonville man was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of threatening a mass shooting at an unspecified Pajaro Valley Unified School District graduation ceremony. Moises Resendiz was charged with making criminal threats, a felony. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail and was...

In 1942, the U.S. and Mexico hammered out a deal that allowed millions of Mexican men to enter the country to work as Braceros. Through its 22-year history, the Bracero Program saw more than four million workers come to work as agricultural laborers. The Braceros—which...

Firefighters from Pajaro Valley Fire and Watsonville Fire douse a fire that engulfed a motorboat, a motorcycle, a tent and a wood fence Wednesday afternoon on the 100 block of Lita Lane.

WATSONVILLE—A man has filed a civil lawsuit in Santa Cruz County Superior Court, claiming that 4th District Supervisorial candidate Jimmy Dutra molested him when he was 12. A case management conference is scheduled for Feb. 3. The Pajaronian typically does not name victims in stories involving...

As the city of Watsonville and the greater Pajaro Valley slowly reopen after a year of closures due to the pandemic, a series of events have been scheduled to celebrate the Fourth of July. While the city’s annual Spirit of Watsonville Parade has once again...

MOSS LANDING—The Elkhorn Slough Foundation recently acquired a key wetland property along Moro Cojo Slough, a major tributary of the larger Elkhorn Slough.  The 34-acre tract expands the foundation’s holdings in that area to 450 acres. The foundation has protected more than 4,200 acres of...

WATSONVILLE—A man wanted on several local and federal warrants was arrested after fleeing from officers and crashing into two cars Wednesday. Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said the ordeal began around 1:50pm when patrol officers attempted to pull over a man driving a Honda Accord...