Local News

WATSONVILLE—The organization formed earlier this year to operate and oversee Watsonville Community Hospital is nearing its July 1 deadline to raise enough to make the purchase, but is still $16 million short. If Pajaro Valley Healthcare District (PVHD) is unable to raise the funds, it...

Tarmo Hannula: Watsonville Police officer Javier Ayala introduced his K9, Axel, to the kindergarten class of Mara Valadez at Freedom Elementary School Monday as part of the annual Read Across America Program. Many people in the U.S., including students, parents and teachers, take part...

Officials are saying that two people died in early February from COVID-19 in Santa Clara. The news parallels what officials have recently said about the virus: it got a much earlier start in Wuhan, China than first believed. • Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth...

A weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like.

Monterey County officials say that the fire that erupted at the Moss Landing Power Plant Thursday night was difficult to fight because it was centered on a bank of batteries. “It is unknown how long this incident may last,” county spokeswoman Maia Carroll said. “No...

A newly introduced Assembly bill could keep younger kids off  e-bikes, and require testing for others. But some in the industry say the rules go too far. Every morning and afternoon throughout Santa Cruz County, hundreds of young people commute to school on bicycles powered...

PAJARO—Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration that would allow for federal assistance in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, in addition to six other counties across the state affected by the recent series of atmospheric river storms. According to Newsom, the...

WATSONVILLE—A Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge on Oct. 14 sided with the residents of a mobile home park who had been battling a giant rent increase since 2017.  Attorneys for the residents say the decision supports a County ordinance governing rent increases, and has...

Santa Cruz County residents are being encouraged to apply for the next Civil Grand Jury, a volunteer watchdog panel that investigates local government operations and issues public reports aimed at improving transparency and accountability. The 2026–27 term begins July 1, with the Superior Court expected...

WATSONVILLE—Dozens attended Tuesday night’s Watsonville City Council meeting to rebuke reported complaints lodged to the City Manager’s office about mobile food vendors. This included about a half-dozen food truck operators gathered on one device that took turns grilling the City Council and staff holding the...