Local News

A team of 60 volunteers that included children, teens and adults took gardening implements in hand on July 24 to plant flowers at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in preparation for the upcoming county fair Sept.10-14. “Our fairgoers always appreciate the bright colors and atmosphere...

On Tuesday, as most of their peers were enjoying the waning remainder of their summer breaks, several groups of young people were sitting in classrooms, as math teachers and professors showed them the fundamentals and formulae of the math skills they will need in...

Officials from the National Weather Service have issued a tsunami warning after magnitude 8.7 earthquake occurred at 4:25pm 80 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka in Russia. The resulting tsunami is expected to hit California’s coastal regions at about midnight. According to the National Weather Service, a...

Martin Rubalcava came to the U.S. in 1979 from Mexico, and before he earned his citizenship constantly worried about getting rounded up by immigration officials.  “With the papers, I could begin to feel safe,” he said through a translator. “I could invest, help my kids...

Monterey County officials this week broke ground on a “tiny village” project that was delayed for months after neighbors raised concerns and twice appealed to the city of Watsonville. The 34 small dwellings were intended to give homeless residents living along the Pajaro River a...

Crowds were thick over the weekend at Fruition Brewing & Kitchen during their six-year anniversary in the East Lake Village Shopping Center. Fruition has claimed a list of awards and accolades, including the Silver Medal for their ‘Slip’ Pilsner and a Bronze Medal for...

More than 400 area students were given a running start for the upcoming school year when they were presented with free backpacks loaded with school supplies Saturday in an upbeat gathering in Watsonville Plaza.  Thanks to the Salvation Army in Watsonville, Freedom Rotary Club, Scouting...

About 150 people gathered in Santa Cruz July 17, for a third meeting held over the past few months to send the message that proposed Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in Watsonville, Aptos and Santa Cruz are not welcome. “These folks are pursuing these systems...

An early-morning fire that broke out at a mobile home in the Portola Heights Mobile Home Park on Freedom Boulevard Tuesday is being investigated as an attempted murder. Duane Hawkins, 65, arrived at the home and started the fire following an argument, Watsonville Police spokeswoman...