Biden administration establishes AI guidelines, following county’s lead
President Joe Biden on Oct. 30 issued an Executive Order—a new framework of safety, security and privacy standards governing artificial intelligence (AI) designed to manage the fledgling technology.
The executive order came after Santa Cruz County in September became one of the first jurisdictions in...
Watsonville Film Festival on horizon
The 12th annual Watsonville Film Festival will showcase a collection of films that organizers say challenge stereotypes while highlighting the diversity in the Latinx experience, from lowrider car culture to an indigenous soprano singer from Oaxaca, Mexico.
“This Festival was created to counter Hollywood’s often...
Cabrillo football program suspends operations for two years
It’ll be a few years before fans will see any action from the Cabrillo College football team.
The community college’s Board of Trustees held a special virtual meeting Tuesday evening and came to a unanimous decision to suspend football operations for at least two years.
Cabrillo...
Photo: PVPSA unveils new community mural
A new mosaic mural adorns the exterior front wall of Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance on East Lake Avenue. The 35-by-5-foot art piece was unveiled Wednesday during a ceremony that included local dignitaries and PVPSA officials. The work was created by a body...
Man facing slew of child sex abuse charges had ties to County, officials say
A South Lake Tahoe resident was arrested last week on 99 felony counts related to child sex abuse, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said.
Christopher Scott Flanders, 51, was previously a resident in several areas of Santa Cruz County, including Watsonville, Boulder Creek and...
Silver Spur restaurant opens Watsonville location
It has been more than two decades since beloved restaurateur Linda Hopper purchased the Silver Spur restaurant in Soquel and turned it into a cornerstone of breakfast and lunchtime fare for both locals and out-of-towners.
The restaurant is still going strong, although it will likely...
Rail-trail study gets RTC nod
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission on Thursday unanimously agreed to release a request for proposals (RFP) for an engineering study of the county’s rail line, the first step in what will be a multiple-year project to establish a passenger rail system.
The...
PVUSD negotiations hit snag
The Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers is concerned with a proposal by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District that they say will cut into their pay.
Santa Cruz County moves to orange tier Wednesday
Santa Cruz County will move to the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan tomorrow, the county confirmed in a press release today.
The orange-tier status that takes effect at midnight tonight will mean retail can operate at full capacity. Restaurants, places of worship, movie theaters and...
PVUSD bylaw changes would penalize absences, alter public comment
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of trustees on Wednesday took another step toward revamping its bylaws with the first reading of a series of recommended changes.
The trustees will vote on approving the changes during the June 9 meeting.
If approved, trustees who miss...
Watsonville Film Festival wraps up 14th year
Twenty short films by area students not only filled the big screen at Green Valley Cinemas Sunday afternoon. The program by the Watsonville Film...




















