Local News

Local law enforcement officers from a number of surrounding counties will take to the racetrack to “fund-race” for Special Olympics Northern California (SONC) at the 2017 Police in Pursuit event on Friday at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville.

Glen Fitch of Watsonville hands out free poems Thursday along with his dog, Abercrombie, in front of the main branch of the Watsonville Public Library.

Two new water tanks recently installed at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds — together totaling 130,000 gallons — are big enough to provide water for two days during fair time, should a power outage disable the pumps.

A California Highway Patrol officer arrested a 16-year-old boy early Wednesday morning on suspicion that he was driving under the influence of alcohol, CHP officer Sam Courtney said.

MOSS LANDING—The Elkhorn Slough Foundation recently acquired a key wetland property along Moro Cojo Slough, a major tributary of the larger Elkhorn Slough.  The 34-acre tract expands the foundation’s holdings in that area to 450 acres. The foundation has protected more than 4,200 acres of...

Thania Banda sorts fresh flowers at California Pajarosa in Corralitos Wednesday as the flower industry steps up for Valentine’s Day orders. Valentine’s Day is Tuesday.

Smoke from wildfires burning in northern California and southern Oregon drifted over the Monterey Bay Area Tuesday and has degraded air quality in parts of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties.  The Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) said concentration of smoke has reached...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police are warning the public about the increasing prevalence of virtual kidnapping scams, in which callers claim to have kidnapped a family member and demand a ransom payment. “Within the last week, officers have received nearly a half dozen calls from virtual kidnapping victims,”...

WATSONVILLE—Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens in Watsonville is once again brimming with art as Pajaro Valley Arts’ annual “Sculpture Is” exhibit returns for the 15th year. Installed in late May and officially opened on June 7, the popular outdoor exhibit will be up through October....

A state budget approved Monday by California legislators will, among other things, bring $20 million to the town of Pajaro to help residents recover from the flooding that inundated the area in March. The funds are available to all residents, regardless of immigration status. The budget...