Local News

Roughly 17 percent of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Santa Cruz County have been hospitalized, according to data released by Santa Cruz County officials on Wednesday. There were 54 confirmed cases in the county as of late Tuesday. Nine of those county...

SCOTTS VALLEY—A 55-year-old Santa Cruz woman was found dead Tuesday inside a home on the 800 block of Graham Hill Road, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Ashley Kheen said.  Detectives are investigating the incident as a homicide and are searching for the suspect(s). At 11:30 a.m. deputies responded to...

Today is April Fool’s Day and yes, living up to the adage: April showers bring May flowers; there are showers in the forecast. First, however, are a string of warm, sunny days predicted by meteorologists at the National Weather Service of Monterey. Showers could...

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District is closing its schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 year, Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez announced Wednesday.  “Being a healthy community is key to thriving in it,” Rodriguez said. “Having students in the classroom is ideal and we miss seeing their...

WATSONVILLE—Brian Orozco prides himself in putting his clients at Functional Fitness Training Center through a vigorous workout that challenges them both physically and mentally. Weaving his way through the Employment Development Board’s system to file an unemployment claim put his strenuous workouts to shame. He tried...

WATSONVILLE—The Salvation Army in Watsonville is continuing most of its services for homeless people, even as the COVID-19 pandemic forces many businesses and services to temporarily shut their doors.  “We’re planning to help where we can,” said Lt. Raymundo Jimenez, who oversees the location, along...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County residents will have to stay home for at least another month. County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel on Tuesday night extended the county’s shelter-in-place order through May 3. The order, first enacted on March 17 to slow the spread of COVID-19,...

Santa Cruz County had 49 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday morning, nearly twice the amount it had (25) just six days ago. County officials tomorrow will release an updated infographic that will provide further details on the cases such as gender and age range....

Residents in Santa Cruz County now enter the third week of the shelter-in-place order from health officials launched on March 16 in response to the COVID-19 spread. Now those officials are shifting the initial two-week plan to remain in place until at least May...

WATSONVILLE—Despite canceled fundraisers and an uncertain future for its annual Pride event, Pajaro Valley Pride is still accepting applications for its yearly college scholarship. The Pajaro Valley Pride Scholarship is open to any LGBTQ+ or ally student enrolled full-time in Pajaro Valley Unified School District...