Local News

Watsonville Police collect spent shell casings on the 500 block of Waker Street Saturday. Michelle Pulido, spokeswoman for Watsonville Police, said officers responded to reports of numerous shots fired around 4pm. Officers found shell casings in a market parking lot. Within minutes police caught...

WATSONVILLE—Twenty years ago, Linda S. Gunther was working as a Human Resources Executive in Silicon Valley when she had an idea for a story. A character formed in her imagination: Polly, a young girl who regularly panics over small things that go wrong in...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel on Thursday indefinitely extended the shelter-in-place order issued on March 31. She also closed the county’s beaches between the hours of 11am and 5pm. Both moves are meant to further reduce the spread of COVID-19 by...

PAJARO—Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration that would allow for federal assistance in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, in addition to six other counties across the state affected by the recent series of atmospheric river storms. According to Newsom, the...

Watsonville Police Chief David Honda on Friday released this video condemning the May 25 killing of George Floyd. In a video that has been viewed by millions of people around the world, Minneapolis, Minn. police officer Derek Chauvin was seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck...

Police from multiple agencies surround a home at Freedom Mobile Home Park in Watsonville Wednesday as they serve an arrest warrant for a suspect. Police called over a loudspeaker several times for a man to come out around 1pm. Special Agent Casey Rettig of...

Sunk into dirt after left on edge of farm

Monterey County officials say that the fire that erupted at the Moss Landing Power Plant Thursday night was difficult to fight because it was centered on a bank of batteries. “It is unknown how long this incident may last,” county spokeswoman Maia Carroll said. “No...

GILROY—This year’s Gilroy Garlic Festival has been canceled, festival organizers announced late Friday afternoon. The announcement came as governmental jurisdictions, businesses, educators and residents throughout California are severely restricting their activities in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In a brief email, organizers said the 40-year-old festival...

Watsonville city officials on Monday began clearing a sprawling unsanctioned homeless encampment along the Pajaro River that runs from Sakata Lane to Loughead Avenue. The work, which includes mowing tall grasses and removing some trees, is expected to last through Aug. 2, Watsonville City spokeswoman...