Local News

Olive D. Wilson discovered her love for writing early in life, chronicling her thoughts, experiences and ideas the way many writers do. Over time, that practice evolved. What emerged from that reflective work, she realized, was both a story that needed to be told and...

Santa Cruz County officials on Tuesday opened public hearings on a proposed $1.29 billion budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, warning that federal funding cuts, rising labor costs and growing structural deficits are forcing difficult financial decisions in the years ahead. The recommended budget includes...

Cabrillo College opened its new Watsonville Wellness Center and Food Pantry on Monday at the Watsonville campus on Union Street. “We are very excited to launch the Watsonville Wellness Center, which allows us to equitably provide students with basic-needs services at both our Aptos and...

The Cabrillo College Governing Board voted Monday to censure Trustee Steve Trujillo for a second time, citing findings from an investigation into professional misconduct and violations of board policies. The board approved the censure at its May 4 meeting following a two-month inquiry by an...

Watsonville Community Hospital has earned its first “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group, marking a dramatic improvement in patient safety since the hospital came under public ownership in 2022. The national nonprofit released its Spring 2026 Hospital Safety Grades this week, awarding Watsonville Community Hospital...

Workers put up temporary fencing around a section of Watsonville Plaza in preparation for the City Plaza Revitalization project. The project is expected to take about one year. A groundbreaking Ceremony will take place Thursday from 4-5pm. 

A red 1963 Chevrolet Impala (seen above) was one of scores of Impalas and other vintage cars a trucks that lined Main Street May 2 during the 15th-annual Cruise Night put on by Watsonville Impalas. Established in 2011, the local car club welcomes all such...

New Leaf Energy will bypass Santa Cruz County’s permitting process and instead seek state approval for its proposed battery energy storage system near Watsonville, a move county officials long anticipated as local regulations tightened. In a May 1 letter to County Executive Officer Nicole Coburn,...

Josephine Vidal (from left), Esther Herrera, Ignacia Gonzalez and Maria Cornejo join in folkloric dancing during Cinco de Mary celebration at the Watsonville Senior Center.  Older Adult Services Supervisor Katie Nuñez said about 73 regulars to the center were present for food, fun and dancing. (Tarmo...

The annual Cinco De Mayo Festival drew thousands of people to downtown Watsonville Sunday with live music, food booths, arts and crafts and information tables.  The free five-and-a-half-hour event was put on by Fiestas Patrias. It drew to the stage the popular singer Graciela Beltran,...