Local News

UPDATE (6:15pm, 12/19) The girl has been found safe, Watsonville police say. WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police officers are searching for a missing 7-year-old girl visiting from out of state.  Sophia Serrato was last seen this afternoon inside a Watsonville apartment on the 400 block of Rogge Street. Police...

Yesterday I was lucky to wander through Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services on West Beach Street to cover a group from the San Jose Sharks who were loading up 70 grocery bags for the community and dropping off a $10,000 check. I was...

On July 7, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an expansion of June’s drought emergency proclamation, adding an additional nine counties—including Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Clara. The water emergency continues to worsen, and right when wildfires are raging through tens of thousands of acres around the...

Pajaro Valley High School graduate Julissa Rocha said her time in high school had its ups and downs, but the support from her community pushed her to be the best person and student she is today.  Rocha noted the difficulties during her time in high...

WATSONVILLE—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office have disrupted a major hash oil lab on Hangar Way in Watsonville. Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin said agents from the Cannabis Licensing Office are investigating the discovery of an illegal operation using dangerous chemicals and equipment to...

Elias Gutierrez, 47, is suspected of selling marijuana illegally along with his son, 27-year-old Eli Gutierrez. He returns to court later this month for his preliminary hearing.

WATSONVILLE—The LGBTQ Pride flag will fly in place of the city of Watsonville flag at the Civic Plaza in June after the Watsonville City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution put forth by Mayor Jimmy Dutra, the city’s first openly gay person to hold...

WATSONVILLE—Federal, state and local officials gathered at Atri Park in Watsonville Monday at a public ceremony to sign a design agreement for the Pajaro River Flood Management Project.  The long-awaited $400 million effort is designed to reduce flood risk for the “disadvantaged” communities of Pajaro...

RosaAzul is making its debut at El Vaquero Winery in Corralitos on March 26 from 4-7pm. José Chuy Hernandez and Adam Bolaños-Scow founded RosaAzul as a performance-driven ensemble dedicated to honoring and presenting some of the very best Mexican music with their audiences. With their...

WATSONVILLE—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to purchase properties on Westridge Drive in Watsonville, and to relocate several county services there. The move, which will consolidate five separate departments into a building at 500 Westridge Drive, is expected...