Local News

PAJARO—A 69-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of molesting at least two girls.  The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office arrested Crescenciano Figueroa, Jr., of Pajaro, on charges of child molestation. Figueroa, known by many in the community as “Chano,” was taken into custody on Fremont...

Continued decreases in case and positivity rates have Santa Cruz County on track to enter a less restrictive tier of the state’s Covid-19 reopening plan on March 31, County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said at Thursday’s weekly virtual press conference. According to data released...

A man was arrested Feb. 21 for stealing thousands of dollars worth of electronic equipment from Bradley Elementary School.  Travis Clarke, 33, was charged with burglary, possession of a controlled substance and a probation violation. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu...

One person is dead and two are in hospitals — one of them charged with murder — after a double shooting in a residence high in the hills above Aptos.

People gather in Corralitos Tuesday to decorate a live tree. Jerry Bonnema said he has headed up the effort for about 30 years. "The first year we did this, it was off the back of a tractor," he said. "I've always enjoyed doing community...

A new outdoor mural was unveiled at Cesar Chavez Middle School May 25, a joint effort between Watsonville artist Yermo Aranda, area students, instructors and others. The four-panel mural, roughly 25-by-40-feet, depicts scenes from indigenous people and a multistage chronology of the life of Cesar...

An 18-year-old man was arrested late Tuesday after Watsonville Police caught him street racing. Michelle Pulido, spokeswoman for WPD, said a night shift officer was patrolling on the 500 block on Main Street when he spotted two cars racing. He was able to catch up...

Caltrans is scheduled to close both directions of Highway 1 for a 24-hour block on March 23/24 to make way for the demolition of the 1948 Capitola Ave. overcrossing.  Kevin Drabinski, spokesperson for Caltrans, said the work is the second phase of the three-phase project...

WATSONVILLE—Rachel Clark clearly remembers the day she was invited to join the United Presbyterian Church (UPC) of Watsonville more than 40 years ago. Clark had recently moved to the area and was searching for a place of worship. It was at a community picnic where...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Though there is far less traffic nowadays with the stay-at-home order, the California Highway Patrol is reminding people it doesn’t mean there are now fewer laws.  “We are experiencing people traveling at higher speeds, but we are out there patrolling,” said CHP officer...