Local News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Powerful winds pounded the Central Coast and other parts of California Sunday, tearing down utility lines, dropping trees and limbs across roads and buildings and injuring several people.  With some gusts recorded over 80 mph, the freak windstorm also triggered several wildland fires,...

A crew from the City of Watsonville were busy Wednesday installing a sculpture of a great white heron beside the Watsonville Nature Center in Ramsay Park. The art piece was created by John Cerney. • I saw on TV news this morning that there is another...

The City of Watsonville on Thursday cancelled several local gatherings because of growing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. Those cancellations included its Friday farmers market and its annual Earth Day event, scheduled this year for April 26.  Watsonville City Manager Matt Huffaker said...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Catherine Barr, Executive Director of Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets, was in good spirits Tuesday. She had just received news that the Cabrillo Farmers Market in Aptos would remain open during the countywide shelter-in-place order due to COVID-19. “I am over the moon...

WATSONVILLE—While some will be celebrating the birthday of activist and labor leader Cesar Chavez on March 31, a major raspberry grower in Watsonville will close its doors, and hundreds of employees will be laid off. A representative at Premiere Raspberries, LLC confirmed the closure Thursday...

WATSONVILLE—Facing declining revenues, Watsonville Community Hospital has laid off about 10 employees, a little more than 1 percent of its workforce, Halsen Healthcare CEO Dan Brothman confirmed Wednesday. Brothman said the move was in response to a decline in elective surgeries, and to emergency room...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday voted to permanently end its School Resource Officer program at Watsonville, Pajaro Valley and Aptos high schools, and to redirect the funds to socio-emotional counselors. The district will also look into creating wellness centers...

UPDATE (5:16pm, Aug. 20) Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said the City of Scotts Valley is expected to be evacuated later Thursday evening. UPDATE (3:26pm, Aug. 20) The City of Scotts Valley west of Highway 17, including the downtown area, Paradise Park and the...

WATSONVILLE—Last year, Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) spokeswoman Alicia Jimenez was looking for a way to get the community more involved in local public education.  When visiting other cities such as Gonzales, she noticed they were creating and installing banners in their downtowns, featuring...

Smoke is back. The Zogg Fire has burned through 87 square miles and is only 39% contained. The Glass Fire, at 92 square miles, is threatening 29,835 homes and has led to the mandatory evacuation of the entire town of Calistoga in the popular...