Local News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel said she will revise her shelter-in-place order later this week, after Gov. Gavin Newsom releases information about slightly loosening statewide restrictions. Newsom is expected to launch Stage 2 of his “Reopening Roadmap,” which will allow retail...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Though there is far less traffic nowadays with the stay-at-home order, the California Highway Patrol is reminding people it doesn’t mean there are now fewer laws.  “We are experiencing people traveling at higher speeds, but we are out there patrolling,” said CHP officer...

Today is May 5 and an important day in Mexican history: Cinco de Mayo, a holiday that celebrates the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 during the Second Franco-Mexican War. Also known as Battle of Puebla...

WATSONVILLE—The application process for the City of Watsonville’s small business emergency grants opened today. With help from El Pajaro Community Development Corporation, the city will offer roughly 50 grants of up to $2,000 to small businesses located within city limits with $2 million or less...

SANTA CRUZ—Dignity Health Dominican Hospital announced Monday that it has received a $1 million donation, which will be dispersed to hospital employees who have helped fight the coronavirus. The anonymous donor is a “long-time friend” of the hospital who wanted to thank the workers specifically...

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced today that some retail stores in California can reopen, with some modifications, as early as Friday. The major move comes during mounting pressure to ease the stay-at-home order that has largely crumbled the state's economy. “We are entering into the...

CALIFORNIA—Bishop Jaime Soto of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, along with 1,000 other faith and community leaders from the California Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), on Tuesday will convene with state legislators on Zoom to call for more support for undocumented immigrants during the...

Today is May Day also known as International Workers' Day. It is a day of celebration for laborers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labor movement. The May Day angle of it is a celebration of spring, usually involving traditional dances, barbecues and parties. In...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said Friday that his deputies—along with law enforcement officials across the county—plan to enforce the beach restrictions issued Thursday by Health Officer Gail Newel. The health officer imposed the rules to slow the spread of the novel...