Local News

WATSONVILLE—On Wednesday the Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast (GSCCC) announced that it is extending its Cookie Program until April 18, and will reopen some traditional troop cookie booths across the region. The news comes as much of the state moves from the purple tier...

WATSONVILLE—Police have arrested a man suspected of starting a fire in St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish that caused $100,000 in damage. Alberto Melgoza, 36, is also suspected of setting a fire at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel in June, Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said. Melgoza was arrested...

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday heard a report on a new program created to help some of the county’s most recalcitrant criminals.

A Watsonville man and a 16-year-old boy in a stolen vehicle picked up a 12-year-old girl who ran away from a group home on Monday, and were arrested when they brought her back, according to Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Cleveland.

Stuff the Bus is geared to help in-need families to give their kids a boost in starting the school year.

An early morning fire swept through a popular inn at the Beach Flats area of Santa Cruz Sunday sending guests scurrying into the darkness to safety, some of them in bare feet.

It has been 15 years since Caroline’s Thrift opened, and since that time owner Christine Licker has donated tens of thousands of dollars to local nonprofits. On Feb. 9, Licker held her annual gifting ceremony, during which she handed out checks to 37 organizations totaling...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Heavy winds pummeled the Central Coast Monday night and into Tuesday, causing numerous power outages, scores of power lines to crash to the ground and several wildland fires, including a large one just north of Watsonville. Dubbed the Freedom Fire by Cal Fire’s...