Local News

SANTA CRUZ—The man who was 15 when he kidnapped, raped and murdered 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton in 2015 pleaded guilty to the charges on Tuesday, setting the stage for a sentencing that could see him released by the time he is 25. That is because...

More than $4.4 million has been contributed this year by members of Elks Lodges throughout California and Hawaii to be used in treating children with disabilities. Warren Anderson, Exalted Ruler of Watsonville Lodge No. 1300 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, contributed $1,917.07...

A man was killed Friday night when he was struck by a car as he attempted to cross Main Street in Watsonville. Michelle Pulido, spokeswoman for Watsonville Police, said the man, who was in his 50s, was struck just after 7:30pm.  Police on the scene said...

Sister Julie Hyer, OP, former CEO of Dominican Hospital for more than 22 years, and former CEO of Salud Para La Gente for two and a half years, delivered a donation of $25,000 on Feb. 28 to Salud on behalf of Lifeguard Charitable Fund to support oral health for children and their families.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A new program aims to make electric vehicles accessible to drivers without breaking the bank. Tyler Port-Gaarn works as a teacher in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. He doesn’t drive far for work, but an electric vehicle always seemed too expensive and...

Someday, Ceiba College Preparatory Academy 10th-grader Eduardo De León hopes to study computer science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and forge a path for himself in the field of educational technology.

PAJARO VALLEY—Long-standing realtor Renee Mello was recently named Realtor of the Year for 2021 by the Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors. A broker associate with Keller Williams, Mello, a third-generation Watsonville native, said she was stunned and “truly honored” to have been picked out...

WATSONVILLE—Through a series of contributions and donations, the Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHCD) has gathered together enough money to purchase Watsonville Community Hospital, ending months of nail-biting in which the fate of the 127-year-old institution hung in the balance. PVHCD will close escrow on...

Towering flames reach into the sky at Pacific Firewood & Lumber, 2536 Freedom Blvd., Friday as a huge pile of timber burns. Fire officials said the blaze was triggered by spontaneous combustion sometime during the night. Firefighters around 8:30am said they would be on...

WATSONVILLE—Vanessa Quiroz-Carter was sworn in as the new representative for the Watsonville City Council's 2nd District at Tuesday night’s virtual meeting. Quiroz-Carter, a Watsonville native who most recently served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission, said she was excited to continue the work of...