Local News

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Planning Commission tonight will see staff’s proposed changes to the city’s rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), also known as “granny flats” or “granny units.” The proposed changes, in short, would bring the city’s rules in alignment with several state housing bills passed...

Framing construction is underway on The Hideout restaurant that sustained massive damage in a fire in May 2019. Workers from Costa Bella Builders are continuing work on the exterior walls of the eatery, which is nestled beneath a canopy of redwoods at 9051 Soquel...

APTOS—Community Foundation Santa Cruz County awarded scholarships to 11 local students, the organization announced July 10. Pajaro Valley High School students Reyna Ponce (Barbara J. Thompson Scholarship), Omar Salazar (Emmett and Elsie Geiser Scholarship), Brianna Melgoza-Ortiz (Hank Garcia Jr. and Family Scholarship), Adam Tangonan (Hank...

SACRAMENTO—Gob. Gavin Newsom ordenó el Lunes un cierre estatal de los servicios interiores en restaurantes, teatros, bodegas, museos, zoológicos, salas de juegos y centros de entretenimiento familiar. Newsom tambien dijo que las cantinas deben cesar todas las operaciones. Además, 30 condados en la Lista de...

WATSONVILLE—Election season has officially begun. Former Watsonville City Councilman Jimmy Dutra is again running for office in his home city, announcing on Saturday morning through Facebook that he will run for the City Council seat in District 6. “I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and...

SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday ordered a statewide closure to indoor services in restaurants, theaters, wineries, museums, zoos, card rooms and family entertainment centers. Bars must cease all operations.  In addition, 30 counties on California’s county watchlist must also shutter their churches, gyms, malls, hair...

SAN JOSE—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday arrested a San Jose man suspected of a fatal shooting that occurred on June 14. Albaro Amaral, 30, was charged with murder and attempted murder. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Main Jail in lieu of...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police are warning the public about the increasing prevalence of virtual kidnapping scams, in which callers claim to have kidnapped a family member and demand a ransom payment. “Within the last week, officers have received nearly a half dozen calls from virtual kidnapping victims,”...

Work continues on the major rebuild of the Watsonville High cafeteria and multipurpose room. • I saw on the morning news that one of five people has Covid-19 in Florida. Officials in that state were among the first to rush into reopening, claiming the lockdown was...

WATSONVILLE—Tenant advocates saw a modest increase in eviction notices in June, the month immediately following the Watsonville City Council’s decision to allow its citywide eviction moratorium to expire. The council at its May 26 meeting voted 5-2—Mayor Rebecca Garcia and councilman Francisco Estrada voted “no”—to...