Local News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County officials on Tuesday are expected to discuss whether the county will join five other Bay Area counties in preemptively adhering to the regional stay-at-home order recently issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Although the item is not agendized for tomorrow’s Santa...

Observations from across the Pajaro Valley and beyond.

By Alesandro Manzella Many people who are arrested and booked into Santa Cruz County Jail not only lose their freedom, but also access to health care and mental health services. That's according to a report released June 11 by the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury. Lack of...

A grant announced May 25 by the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County will allow the nonprofit Salud y Cariño to continue its mission of bringing physical fitness and socio-emotional programs to Santa Cruz County girls. The Santa Cruz-based organization was one of 77 nonprofits that...

Prosecution and defense painted sharply varying pictures of Adrian “A.J.”Gonzalez in closing arguments  in Superior Court Tuesday, and a jury will now determine whether the 25-year-old can be released after serving his sentence for the 2015 murder of 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton. Prosecutor Tara George...

A group of city workers and volunteers spent the afternoon cleaning massive amounts of trash from a wooded hillside in Watsonville one sunny day in early December, hauling away several full dumpsters. “It’s a hot mess,” said Sally-Christine Rodgers, who founded the Pitch-In Initiative about...

As the nation awaits the final results of the much-anticipated presidential race, other outcomes at the national and state level have been all but decided. According to results tallied Thursday, 20th District Congressman Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat, had a massive lead over challenger Jeff Gorman,...

WATSONVILLE—On Feb. 17 the Board of Directors of the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) unanimously adopted the 2021 Cost of Service Rate Study and Resolution 2021-05. The move adopts procedures for public hearing, notice and protest concerning proposed revisions to charges for augmentation...

Two people were injured Saturday night when a remote-controlled plane smashed into their home on Buena Vista Drive, where they had gathered with friends and family to watch the Fire In The Sky Open House show at the nearby Watsonville Municipal Airport. In a Facebook...