Local News

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville High School community is reeling from the loss of four staff members that occurred over the past nine months. History and economics teacher Abel Mejia died on Sept. 16, and his brother Ruben Mejia, a biology teacher, died on Sept. 5.  Their deaths came after...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Since the start of the CZU Lightning Complex fires, county residents and community supporters both locally and beyond have stepped forward to meet the needs of CZU Lightning Complex fire evacuees. Effective Friday at 4 p.m., the 1082 Emeline Ave. warehouse in Santa...

WATSONVILLE—When Covid-19 shelter-in-place restrictions hit Santa Cruz County in March, the Eighth Annual Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) was one of the first large events to be shut down. Executive Director Consuelo Alba and her team were forced to cancel the multiple film screenings, activities and...

Do you have a recent photograph you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to [email protected] or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the name...

This week, communities across the U.S. are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, a month dedicated to the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The origins of the observance began with President Lyndon Johnson, who...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville City Councilman Lowell Hurst is being criticized for taunting a community member during a Sept. 8 virtual meeting. Hurst in the video recording of the meeting could be seen patting himself on the back, mocking comments made by a Watsonville resident during public comment....

I looked through the window of the Watsonville High School cafeteria the other day to check on the huge renovation going on. A crew was there installing new floor tiles, a fraction of the overall job. It looked great. New modern lights, a high...

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved a set of detailed rules that outline how residents who lost their homes in the CZU August Lightning Complex fires can rebuild. Under the new rules, the county will add consultants and staff to...

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County now has another tool to help survivors of sexual assault. The Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) program, a team of nurses trained to recognize, document and collect evidence from patients, resumed operations at Dominican Hospital on Aug. 24 after a three-year...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Public Health Division announced Wednesday morning the eighth death of a resident due to Covid-19. The resident, who died in their home, was a Hispanic male in his early 40s who lived in South County. While the individual had...