Local News

WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville over the next eight months will undergo its decennial citywide effort to redraw the lines of its elected districts. Every decade following the release of census data, cities and counties must adjust their district lines to account for possible shifts in...

On July 7, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an expansion of June’s drought emergency proclamation, adding an additional nine counties—including Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Clara. The water emergency continues to worsen, and right when wildfires are raging through tens of thousands of acres around the...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The County of Santa Cruz will hold a public meeting to collect input on establishing an Independent Sheriff’s Auditor (ISA), a position the County says will provide oversight into the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.  The meeting will take place Tuesday, Aug. 30,...

WATSONVILLE—In a decision that will likely head to the Watsonville City Council for another heated debate, the Planning Commission on Tuesday voted 4-3 to deny an appeal from a cannabis company that cried foul after missing out on one of the city’s three dispensary...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved this fiscal year’s budget, a behemoth $932 million spending plan that represents an 8% reduction in spending from the previous year. That decrease came as the county recovers from the CZU Lightning...

A 45-year-old man died early Sunday morning when his vehicle careened off of Graham Hill Road near Felton and smashed onto a tree. California Highway Patrol Officer Israel Murillo said the man, who has not been named, was driving a 2009 Nissan Altima north on...

Selena tribute set for Saturday A tribute to the late singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez is slated for Saturday in Romo Park in downtown Watsonville. Put on by Arte del Corazon, the free, five-hour event will include music by DJ Moi, Mariachi Illusion, activities for all ages, Selena...

Skillicorn BBQ benefits Scouts The Skillicorn BBQ returns Aug. 23 at the Corralitos Padres Hall, 35 Browns Valley Road, beginning at 5pm. The event is a major fundraiser to support the Scouts BSA programs in the Greater Pajaro Valley of the Loma Prieta District. Since its...

Watsonville artist Kathleen Crocetti has created  two mosaic medallions for the City of Watsonville, which were installed recently at Memorial Park, located at the confluence of Freedom Boulevard and Main Street. One depicts a dragon, and is a modern play written by Watsonville’s Steve Spike...

Watsonville city employees raised $5,318.65 for Second Harvest Food Bank during the organization’s Holiday Food and Fund Drive.