Local News

SANTA CRUZ—The man who was 15 when he kidnapped, raped and murdered 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton in 2015 pleaded guilty to the charges on Tuesday, setting the stage for a sentencing that could see him released by the time he is 25. That is because...

Jurisdictions throughout the U.S. have imposed shelter-in-place orders for their residents in an attempt to slow or stop the spread of coronavirus, casting into doubt nearly all day-to-day activities. So what is and is not allowed under the order? Grocery stores and other retail businesses that...

As he drove under the new pedestrian and bicycle bridge spanning Highway 1 Wednesday, CalTrans structural engineer Jorge Uberhuaga pointed to the wooden framework he described as a “bridge to build a bridge.” After installing the rebar skeleton, workers will soon begin pouring cement that...

WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville at a Dec. 15 public meeting will release the results of a recent survey that asked the community about its views and vision for the downtown corridor. The virtual gathering is part of the City’s Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan (DWSP) endeavor,...

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville woman died in a two-vehicle crash late Saturday night on Holohan Road in Watsonville. According to California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo, Breanna Romero, 26, was driving north in a 2015 Hyundai Elantra around 10:20pm. The driver of a  Volvo XC90 was traveling...

WATSONVILLE—Roaring Camp Railroads has struck a deal with Progressive Rail to provide freight services for Watsonville businesses. Santa Cruz Big Trees and Pacific Railway, a subsidiary of Roaring Camp, announced the deal on April 30 in a press release. Roaring Camp CEO Melani Clark said the...

WATSONVILLE—Many students unable to return to class when school starts on Aug. 14 due to Covid-19 restrictions will attend a virtual academy, an all-online option created by Pajaro Valley Unified School District as it plans for the coming academic year. The PVUSD Board of Trustees...

WATSONVILLE—Santa Cruz County is considering making a disaster declaration in the wake of the massive rainstorm that brought flooding to several parts of the county, according to Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin. The County is still waiting on responses from State and federal officials.  “Yesterday...

Gun shots ring out during the day and well into the night as police officers run through training aimed to keep their perishable skills from diminishing.