Attorneys wrap up months-long Adrian Gonzalez trial
Prosecution and defense painted sharply varying pictures of Adrian “A.J.”Gonzalez in closing arguments in Superior Court Tuesday, and a jury will now determine whether the 25-year-old can be released after serving his sentence for the 2015 murder of 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton.
Prosecutor Tara George...
Watsonville Nature Center reopens to the public, readies for expansion
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Nature Center reopened to visitors last weekend for the first time since the pandemic, holding an open house on June 26 that included a special workshop on emergency wildfire preparedness.
Various local organizations and agencies were on hand at the event, including Regeneración...
Wet weather likely for New Year
The Monterey Bay region is expected to see a wet start to the new year, with several days of rain, fog and an elevated risk of coastal flooding affecting low-lying areas near Watsonville through the weekend.
The National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood...
Local farms get big loan boost
Local farmers Zea Sonnabend and Javier Zamora talk Aug. 17 about both of their farming operations and how a $1 million loan from California FarmLink boosted their businesses.
El Vaquero Winery to present three 800-Pound Gorillas of Comedy
Santa Cruz “comedy troubadour” Richard Stockton, known for Planet Cruz Comedy Hour on KPIG radio station, will host the Three 800 Pound Gorillas of Comedy, featuring deadpan Phil Griffiths and the high-energy Michael Meehan at El Vaquero Winery in Corralitos.
Griffiths is coming off sold-out...
Watsonville honors outgoing council, swears in new members
WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville bade goodbye to three outgoing members on Tuesday, two of them longtime leaders with decades of combined experience between them.
Lowell Hurst and Rebecca Garcia served for years on the council, including stints as mayor. Francisco “Paco” Estrada was elected in...
Person killed in early-morning, head-on collision
A person was killed early Thursday morning in a head-on collision on San Juan Road that sent another person to a trauma center in critical condition.
TEDxSantaCruz 2024 announces April event at Cabrillo College
South Santa Cruz County will be well represented at this year’s TEDxSantaCruz event, which returns April 13 and will be held at Cabrillo College’s Crocker Theater. The 2024 theme is “Rising Together.” The event was last held in 2019 at the Rio Theatre.
South County...
Chilly temps hit coast | About Town
Temperatures plunged into the low 30s Sunday night and into Monday morning. When I walked out onto my front yard early Monday frost had set in across the grounds. My neighbors’ roofs were frosty white. On Monday night the cold came back and the...
Montesino, Acosta running unopposed in respective races
WATSONVILLE—With the 2020 election right around the corner, most candidates are doing what they can to garner support, and finding ways to convince voters to choose them over another candidate.
But what do candidates do if they are running unopposed? What should they focus on,...
‘Catz lose tight battle to Los Alamitos in D-III title match...
So close, yet so far.
A historical journey for the Watsonville High boys soccer team came to a heart-rending end Saturday afternoon.
The No. 1 Wildcatz...




















