Local News

WATSONVILLE—Santa Cruz County’s Fourth of July celebration frequently features fireworks, and sales begin today at 20 locations throughout the City of Watsonville for the “safe-and-sane” variety. These are allowed to be used only in the cities of Capitola and Watsonville. The problem, law enforcement and fire...

WATSONVILLE—Kristal Salcido says that she had for months planned to spend the final weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 election walking door-to-door throughout Watsonville’s Fourth District to drum up support for her city council run. On Wednesday, Salcido received the news that whether or...

WATSONVILLE—In a historic move at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the City of Watsonville officially apologized to the local Filipino community for the 1930 anti-Filipino race riots, which ended in the death of one man and ignited unrest across California.  It did so in a resolution...

WATSONVILLE—Gina Arnold knew for years that her father was an amateur artist. He would say that he went out to paint every weekend, and he had an office full of paints. He even sent out hand-painted Christmas cards every year. But Arnold had no idea...

More than 100 people lined up along Main Street in downtown Watsonville Saturday as part of a nationwide protest against President Donald Trump. Waving signs such as "Hands Off,” “Question Authority,” and “Only You Can Prevent Fascism” the crowd drew hoots,hollers and blaring horns...

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustees who miss meetings without providing notice will lose their monthly stipend under a set of new bylaws approved by the board on Wednesday. The trustees also heard a budget report that shows some positive financial news that is tempered...

Community Foundation Santa Cruz County announced $320,000 in grants issued by the Rise Together Fund for Racial Equity. Over the course of three granting cycles, the foundation has now awarded $1.1 million to the coalition. Founded in 2020, Rise Together is a coalition of Black,...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Parks and Community Services is inviting the community to the Environmental Science Workshop’s (ESW) 25th-anniversary party, Wednesday from 4:30-6:30pm. Established in 1997 by the California Community Science Workshop in San Francisco, ESW offers free after school science lessons and programs to hundreds of local...

WATSONVILLE—At Renaissance High School 56 students graduated this year and took part in an unorthodox drive-through ceremony June 3 to pick up their diplomas. First-year principal Deanna Young said dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, especially as graduation approached, called for tremendous resources at her...