Local News

People come together every Wednesday at the Veterans Memorial Building (VMB) in Santa Cruz to serve the community.  Many military veterans can’t afford the food they need. The Santa Cruz American Legion Post 64, part of a nationwide veterans’ service organization, and nonprofit Second Harvest...

WATSONVILLE—Cilantro’s Parrilla Y Cantina recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, and the Mexican restaurant is not slowing down even with shelter-in-place orders in effect. The business remains open seven days a week, albeit with a limited staff, and is still offering takeout orders of about 90...

California renters teetering on the edge of homelessness may now be able to breathe a small sigh of relief as lawmakers move forward a last-minute deal extending eviction protections through Sept. 30. “Even though our state has reopened, hundreds of thousands of Californians are grappling...

SANTA CRUZ—A man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a large number of illegal drugs for sale Monday on the West Side of Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Enforcement Team found Michael Rodgers in his car near Shaefer Road at Delaware...

Watsonville Police detectives are investigating a gang-related shooting that left two victims injured Wednesday night. The 14- and 18-year-old victims were transported to the hospital, where they are expected to fully recover.   According to WPD spokeswoman Michelle Pulido, police responded to reports of shots fired on...

SANTA CRUZ—The California Highway Patrol is looking for a driver who fatally struck a pedestrian late Monday night, and then fled on foot. According to CHP Officer Sam Courtney, the 47-year-old victim was walking in the area of Highway 1 north of Shaffer Road when...

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APTOS—A man was struck and killed by an SUV early Thursday morning on Highway 1 in Aptos. California Highway Patrol Officer Alyssa Gutierrez said the victim was wandering around the southbound lanes on foot around 6:20am when he was struck by a Honda CRV driven...

WATSONVILLE—Staff of Life grocery store has for a half-century been a backbone of healthy eating and living in Santa Cruz County, selling organic food and natural products long before those concepts hit the mainstream. Founders Richard Josephson and Gary Bascou launched the business as a...