County Office of Education raises Pride flag
Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah joined two young people at the flag pole at the Office of Education headquarters on Encinal Street in Santa Cruz Friday morning, where they attached a Pride flag that will fly with the U.S. and the...
Santa Cruz County names ‘alternate care’ sites for COVID-19 patients
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The County of Santa Cruz on Monday announced that it will use two facilities to care for 100 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 – and need to be isolated – but are not critically ill.
County officials are also looking to...
Garage sale benefits local organizations
Twin Lakes Church’s sixth annual World’s Biggest Garage Sale is set for Saturday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Levee eviction & cleanout begins, setting stage for construction, restoration
On Monday, 27-year-old Brenda Duarte was standing alongside a pile of her belongings in between the train tracks and the Pajaro River Levee, wondering where she was going to sleep that night after a planned levee eviction uprooted her.
Surrounding her were scores of recently...
Two killed in Carlton Road fatal shooting identified
The two men who were shot and killed Oct. 4 on the 700 block of Carlton Road on the outskirts of Watsonville have been identified as Jeremiah Rios Aguilera and Giovanni Aburto Lopez, both 21 and both of Watsonville.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s detectives believe...
Frustrations rise as Covid-19 again closes personal care businesses
WATSONVILLE—In the days leading up to the first countywide economic shutdown, Lona Martinez thought the possibility of a mass closure was a rumor sparked by those looking to scare the public.
“I thought it was a bunch of hype,” she said. “And then it happened...it...
Police: Man shot into Watsonville home
WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man was arrested on Feb. 11 after police say he fired a gun into a residence on the 100 block of Hill Avenue.
Several people were in the home, including two children, Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said.
Nobody was injured.
Daniel Zavala, 28,...
‘People simply loved it:’ County fair wraps up
The Santa Cruz County Fair wrapped up Sunday at the close of its five-day, 2025 season.
“We had an excellent fair,” said Ron Haedicke, marketing director. “ It was a great run with no issues. Attendance was down 10 percent from last year, but we...
Briefs: Meetings to discuss proposed fire district assessment; healthcare program deadline nears
Meetings to discuss proposed fire district assessment
Property owners in the Pajaro Valley Fire Protection District are being asked to vote on a new assessment to maintain the Fire District’s current services and operations.
According to the district, this measure will help to ensure adequate staffing...
Pajaro Valley High senior announces run for school board
Eriberto Estrada went to his first Pajaro Valley Unified School District board meeting during his sophomore year at Pajaro Valley High School.
He says...






















