Local News

Watsonville City Attorney Alan Smith, who has held the position for 25 years, has announced his retirement and plans to work through December, City Manager Matt Huffaker confirmed Friday.

Robert “Bobby” Salazar, the unofficial mayor of Aptos who served as security guard and maintenance man for Aptos High School for more than four decades, and who was known for his ever-present smile and exhortations for everyone he met to “keep smiling,” died March 17 after a battle with cancer. He was 62.

Editor’s note: This is the third entry in a series that will break down the California Propositions going to voters in the Nov. 3 election. To read the first entry click here, and to read the second entry click here. California voters will make a...

A dance group, Ohtori Kinsen-Kai, prepare to perform a traditional dance from Okinawa Saturday at the 33rd annual Japanese Cultural Fair in Santa Cruz. The free event showcased live music, dance, martial arts, crafts, food and more.

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Community Hospital will either be sold to a new buyer or—if that fails—close by Jan. 28, CEO Steven Salyer announced Monday.  In a letter sent to employees, Salyer states that the hospital is facing “significant financial challenges,” which have been compounded by decreased revenue...

WATSONVILLE—Four people have applied to fill the seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees left vacant when Maria Orozco was elected to the Watsonville City Council. On Saturday morning, the Board will convene in a public meeting at the District headquarters...

“Strawberry Picker,” a black and white work from Watsonville native Juan Fuentes that depicts a Latinx fieldworker shadowed by an indigenous ancestor, received unanimous approval from the commission at the public meeting.

WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville is cracking down on unpermitted food trucks and weighing whether to rework its rules regarding the mobile food vendors in the coming year. The City Manager’s office has received numerous complaints about food trucks from several brick-and-mortar restaurant owners over the...

After 18 months of work by 200 students, Pajaro Valley Unified School District unveiled a small house that will soon be home to someone who needs it. At just 20 by 8 feet, the tinyhome is ready for occupation, and comes equipped with living quarters...

In late September, Watsonville Municipal Airport Director Rayvon Williams was named as this year’s Michael A. Shutt Award recipient. Then on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will distribute $83,575 to the airport for a zero-emissions vehicle and infrastructure...