Local News

The Watsonville Police Department is warning everyone about a new crime that is on the rise across the nation, and has now occurred in Watsonville. “Bank jugging” involves thieves waiting in bank parking lots or near ATMs to target people carrying cash. They then follow the...

Victoria Bañales was the first in her family to attend college, but like many young people she was unsure where her path would take her.  She changed her major several times before settling on a path. That was after she made a discovery about her...

More than 1,000 students at Watsonville High School hit the street Thursday morning in a boisterous protest against the Trump administration’s immigrant deportation policies.  Waving signs that read, “No Humans are Illegal,” “Stop Separating Families,” and “Protect Kids, Not Guns,” the crowd drew the attention...

It has been 15 years since Caroline’s Thrift opened, and since that time owner Christine Licker has donated tens of thousands of dollars to local nonprofits. On Feb. 9, Licker held her annual gifting ceremony, during which she handed out checks to 37 organizations totaling...

Slowly and painstakingly, more than 30 students in Elise Jacobs fifth-grade class at Bradley Elementary School trimmed bits of plastic of varying textures and colors, and then glued into place on the mosaic artwork on their desk. Little by little, their menagerie of orcas,...

People who live in the vicinity of the Vistra battery storage facility at the Moss Landing power plant were on edge again Tuesday when they were told to stay indoors with their windows closed after smoke was seen coming from the property. The alert was...

In the half-century since its inception, Renaissance High School has offered students a small, specialized serene environment for students who need to make up missing credits, and for those with difficulty fitting into a traditional school.  The remote location and small class sizes help many...

The man who kidnapped, raped and murdered an 8-year-old girl before placing her body in a recycling bin in 2015 will spend at least another two years in prison. After less than a week of deliberations, a jury denied Adrian “A.J.” Gonzlaez’s bid for parole...

The 2025 Annual Fairgrounds Foundation Crab Feed is set for March 1 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.  The event will feature live music, a no host bar, prizes and a silent auction, with winners to be drawn and posted during the dinner.  “We also will...

A Watsonville man was arrested Thursday morning on allegations of sexual abuse of a minor at a Watsonville daycare facility. Ramon Castillo-Ruiz, 28, was charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and possession of a controlled substance. He was booked into...