Local News

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Nature Center is opening for visitors this weekend for the first time since the pandemic. A bilingual open house will be held Saturday from 3-5pm, with a workshop on emergency wildfire preparedness. Numerous organizations and agencies will be on hand for the event,...

WATSONVILLE—The Covid-19 pandemic has presented many challenges for Santa Cruz County renters, property managers and landlords alike. With renters suddenly out of work and unable to pay most, or even the entirety of their rent, threats of evictions have been looming. For some landlords,...

A Watsonville man was arrested early Tuesday morning after a brief chase in a stolen car, which ended when he collided with a tree.

For the 29th consecutive year, philanthropist George Ow Jr. and his family provided American Dream Scholarships of $500 each to local high school seniors.

WATSONVILLE—Yoni Espinoza says he was just 6 years old when his mother told him that they were going to go on a “long, long walk.” He says he had no idea the trek would be a three-day journey through excruciatingly hot days and numbingly cold...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Planning Commission on Tuesday will make a decision on a proposed 75-foot cell tower on the 1400 block of Freedom Boulevard. New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC (AT&T Wireless) under the proposal would rent space at Extra Space Storage, 1478 Freedom Blvd., to construct...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The economic restrictions imposed on various Santa Cruz County businesses are not expected to be loosened this week, according to Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency spokeswoman Corinne Hyland. That’s despite the fact that the county will have spent its 14th day off...

A man suspected of breaking into his family’s home and stealing a large amount of cash was arrested after a standoff Tuesday morning.

Emergency officials help a female driver out of her Honda Accord Tuesday morning after she plowed over a speed limit sign and a tree.

Twenty-four oil paintings by Scotts Valley artist Shirley Lehner-Rhodes are currently showing at the Santa Cruz County Building, 701 Ocean St.  A professional artist and art instructor, Lehner-Rhodes primarily works in watercolors and oils. Her ongoing series of paintings are figurative works in landscapes, local...