Local News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County health officials identified 37 new Covid-19 cases—the county’s largest single-day jump since the virus started its spread—on Monday, increasing the number of new cases over the last eight days to 142. There are 216 active cases in the county, and...

The protests that initially broke out after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police on May 25 continue, with Black Lives Matter activists across the world calling for racial equality and police reform. The movement inspired Marcus Baskerville, owner of Weathered Souls Brewing Company...

The half-trillion-dollar loan program advertised as a lifesaver for the country’s struggling small businesses is again under fire after the Small Business Administration on Monday released a list containing hundreds of recipients of the program, revealing that several private equity-backed chains owned by members...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Chief of Police David Honda will give a presentation on "community oversight and engagement" to the City Council at today's virtual meeting. The meeting begins at 2pm. To participate visit https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/794248253 or call 1 (786) 535-3211 and enter access code 794-248-253. The Watsonville Police...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Watsonville firefighters had a “very busy Fourth of July” as they responded to a total of 24 calls in the 24-hour period surrounding the holiday, including medical calls and fires to vegetation, dumpsters and structures. Units were also out patrolling for illegal...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police on Friday arrested a man for allegedly sexually abusing a young girl. Francisco Guzman-Marin, 66, was charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14. He was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail, jail records...

MONTEREY COUNTY—Businesses across the Pajaro River Bridge were dealt another tough blow this week, as Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday called for Monterey County restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, zoos, museums and card rooms to close their indoor operations.  Newsom also said the county’s bars must...

FREEDOM—A Freedom man was arrested Saturday after a bullet he fired during a July 4 celebration ricocheted off the ground and entered a nearby residence, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said. The bullet came within inches of a 10-year-old girl in her Miller...

WATSONVILLE—The West Coast Ravens Fly Formation Team shot through the sky over Watsonville Saturday.  The flyover show was meant to celebrate the Fourth of July, as the city’s recurring Fire in the Sky event was canceled due to Covid-19. It was organized by the City...

The Fourth of July is a special day of celebration for every community around the nation. In celebrating Independence Day, we recognize everything and everyone that makes up the United States. That leaves plenty of room for interpretation. The definition of “American” is wholly...