Santa Cruz County COVID-19 testing still limited as cases increase
SANTA CRUZ—More than 175 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Santa Cruz County, and 24 of them have come back positive.
That’s according to county Health Services Director Mimi Hall, who at Tuesday morning’s Board of Supervisors meeting said that the county is still limited...
Watsonville City Council halts evictions for residents impacted by COVID-19
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville renters that have been under increased financial pressure during the COVID-19 outbreak received some good news Monday.
The City Council by a 5-2 vote approved a temporary moratorium on evictions for tenants—both residential and commercial—affected by the fallout of the global coronavirus pandemic.
The emergency...
Homicide suspect arrested in Santa Cruz
SANTA CRUZ—A Santa Cruz man was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of homicide, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said.
Leif Ames, 35, was arrested around 8:50 p.m. after deputies were dispatched to a home on the 800 block of Brommer Street in Live Oak...
Restaurants, markets open for community | About Town
Johanna Miller
A lot has happened since I last wrote for About Town. The global COVID-19 crisis is unlike anything most of us have experienced. While I’m grateful that my friends and family are safe and healthy, I cannot help but worry every day.
My job...
Santa Cruz County Court moves outdoors
SANTA CRUZ—On a normal day in Santa Cruz County Superior Court, hundreds of people filter in and out of four courtrooms as their criminal cases wind their way through the system.
That changed on Mar. 17, when court officials delayed all jury trials and severely...
Second Harvest calls in National Guard to help with distribution
WATSONVILLE—Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County has a message for the community: the California National Guard members stationed there are not there to protect food supplies, and they are not there to enforce the statewide shelter-in-pace order.
And they are not there for...
County asks public to avoid crowding beaches to slow COVID-19
Santa Cruz County officials are urging the public to avoid crowding the county’s beaches in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
With shelter-in-place orders in place throughout California, non-essential workers are staying home, schools and universities are switching to online classes and some...
Monterey County announces first coronavirus death
MONTEREY COUNTY—Monterey County health officials on Saturday announced the first death of a county resident that had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Officials said the victim was an “adult individual” who had an “underlying health condition” that made them more susceptible to the highly-contagious virus that...
Strawberry Festival fills downtown
Thousands of people filled downtown Watsonville Saturday on day two of the three-day Strawberry Festival.
As the fog broke apart and blue sky took over,...
