Local News

SALINAS–Law enforcement officials have arrested a man suspected of using a slingshot to shoot glass marbles at dozens of vehicles traveling on highways 156 and 101 in Prunedale and San Benito County since February. Charles Kenneth Lafferty, 52, has been charged with 21 felony counts,...

A 19-year-old Watsonville man was arrested Thursday after an underage girl told police he had been sexually abusing her for several years.

A cleanup at Watsonville’s Palm Beach was held Thursday morning in an effort to dispose of waste from the Fourth of July holiday.

Editor’s note: This is the first half of a two-part series about Watsonville High graduate Joanne Buob Martin, class of 1962. WATSONVILLE—Joanne Buob Martin was part of Watsonville High’s 1962 graduating class, the largest class to date, with 355 seniors. It was also the graduating...

A California Highway Patrol officer surveys the damage where a Chevrolet 1500 pickup slammed into a Buick LaCrosse on San Andreas Road Thursday. CHP officer Fred Smith said the male driver of the pickup, that was traveling south of San Andreas Road, appeared to...

Words to live by I would like to share an uplifting quote, in these difficult days of the coronavirus, with the Pajaronian readers. It’s a real gem, that is credited to President Theodore Roosevelt, “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there!” Those are wise words from...

As part of the 2025 Open Farm Tours  guests get a deeper understanding of the workings of the Homeless Garden Project on the west side of Santa Cruz Sunday. Open Farm Tours began 12 years ago, this year opening the doors to 16 farms...

APTOS—Two months after the Cabrillo College Board of Trustees approved a plan to rename the institution, it is seeking proposals from the public. The decision to change the name came after several meetings and public forums that involved delving deep into the history of...

Watsonville High School senior Nayeli Lopez is about a year away from being old enough to vote, but that hasn’t stopped her from getting involved in local activism. Lopez, 17, is president of the school’s Education, Community, Humanitarian, Outreach (ECHO) Leadership Academy. She and other...

Watsonville artist Josefina Rocha (right) works on a new piece of art Saturday inside the Porter Building during the Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s 37th annual Open Studios Art Tour. This year features 322 artists that open their studios across Santa Cruz County to...