Local News

Young artists in Santa Cruz County have a chance to see their artwork come to life in lights this holiday season. The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation is inviting children ages 5-12 to enter its annual “Youth Art in Lights” contest, with the winning design...

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) is seeking public input on a plan that would allow agricultural landowners to voluntarily convert marginal farmland to other uses in an effort to reduce groundwater demand while providing environmental benefits. The agency has released a public review draft...

Dozens of community members and local leaders gathered at a rally Friday at Watsonville Community Hospital in support of Measure E, the temporary half-cent sales tax created to protect the community services threatened by federal cuts.  Speakers urged supporters to take action in support of...

The art of folkloric attire is the focus of the current exhibit at Watsonville Center for the Arts.  Presented by Galeria Plazita, “Threads of Identity” showcases men’s and women’s attire created for the world of folkloric dancers through the ages.  Watsonville Arts Program Manager Yesenia Molina...

Pajaro Valley Unified School District trustees on Wednesday approved a three-year contract with the district’s teachers union, ending more than a year of negotiations while raising concerns about the district’s increasingly precarious financial situation. The agreement passed 5-1, with Trustee Misty Navarro abstaining. Trustee Gabriel...

A 14-year-old girl who authorities say was sexually abused and impregnated by her father was behind the wheel of a car that ran over her newborn daughter, Monterey County Sheriff's Office investigators said Thursday. The revelation came during a press conference in which Sheriff Tina...

Santa Cruz County voters will decide on a temporary sales tax to fund county services affected by federal budget cuts in next month’s election.  Measure E is a countywide half-cent sales tax on non-essential goods, meaning it excludes groceries, prescriptions and other essential items.  The tax...

Last month, Sen. John Laird has secured over $3 million in state funding for advancing healthcare access in Watsonville and the Central Coast region. Watsonville Community Hospital received $327,000 to upgrade and replace its operating room equipment. The hospital has been making upgrades to imaging,...

Two and a half years after taking the helm of Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Superintendent Heather Contreras will be leaving for a new post. The San Luis Coastal Unified School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved Contreras as its next superintendent Tuesday night. She...