Local News

Watsonville Poet Laureate Victoria Bañales recently earned a Best Poetry Book Award from the International Latino Book Awards (ILBA) for her latest book, The Sun Will Not Harm You by Day, Nor the Moon by Night. Bañales said three books were selected for this category,...

Editor's note: This is one of several stories The Pajaronian is running in advance of the Nov. 3 gubernatorial election. Prooposition 3 If passed, Proposition 3 will amend the California Constitution to add the existing voter-approved tax rates for individuals earning over $371,000 or joint...

The Santa Cruz County Fair kicked off Wednesday, welcoming visitors to a vibrant world of “Apple Pies and Starry Skies.” A crowd of more than 100 watched the ribbon-cutting ceremony after hearing welcoming words and gratitude for those who made it happen. As the crowd gathered...

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected a proposed ordinance that would have allowed voters to have a say when companies want to build AI data centers in the unincorporated parts of the county. Board Chair Monica Martinez, along with supervisors Manu...

A giant apple pie made of fabric sits near the entrance of JJ Crosetti Hall at the 2026 Santa Cruz County Fair. The work represents the multitude of arts on display in the building, the much-loved apple pie contest and the rich agriculture that makes...

Jaime Espinoza, lead singer of the popular Mexican band Los Fugitivos, welcomes 5-year-old Kimberlyn Hernandez to the stage Sunday during the annual Mexican Independence Day celebration in downtown Watsonville. Kimberlyn brought two of the band's CDs to get them autographed. The free, six-hour event—held...

Members of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers have ratified a three-year labor agreement with Pajaro Valley Unified School District, moving the contract one step closer to final approval. The agreement now heads to the PVUSD Board of Trustees for consideration. PVFT President Brandon Diniz...

A quarter-century ago, our world changed drastically. The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks were a coordinated operation in which terrorists seized control of four commercial airliners. Two were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, while a third struck the Pentagon in...

The annual Mexican Independence Day Festival is set for Sunday in downtown Watsonville Sunday. Put on by Fiestas Patrias, the free event will feature live music, food booths, arts and crafts and information tables spread out around Watsonville Plaza and surrounding streets.  This year the...

Hundreds of LGBTQ+ students, their families, educators and allies from throughout the Central Coast will gather at Watsonville High School Sept. 26 for the Rainbow Conference, a day organizers say is designed to build community, share resources and celebrate young people. For Katherine Figueroa, 15,...