56.4 F
Watsonville
March 12, 2026

Man who tried to kill officers denied parole

watsonville police
SALINAS—A man convicted two decades ago of trying to kill two Watsonville Police officers was denied parole this week after a hearing at Salinas Valley State Prison, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell announced Wednesday. Manuel Murillo, 42, was also convicted of dozens of...

Volunteers garner AAA Gold Volunteer Awards

AAA team members Alfredo Torres and Yvonne Morales recently won volunteer awards signed by President Donald Trump.

Winter off to wet start, with more to come

watsonville weather
CENTRAL COAST—Winter started Dec. 21 and colder, wet weather came through the door with it. A series of storms have dumped heavy rains across the Central Coast and record-breaking snow in the Sierra Nevada. Just weeks ago warnings of severe drought and water rationing were...

City proposing utilities rate increases to fund numerous projects

Watsonville city council
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council will have a public hearing on May 25 concerning proposed utilities rate increases over the next five years, a cost city staff says is needed in order to make several upgrades to ailing infrastructure. The new rates would mean a typical...

Former Watsonville Police DARE officer dies

Mike Ciglar watsonville
WATSONVILLE—Mike Ciglar, a retired Watsonville Police Department officer and fixture in the local law scene for 30 years, died Oct. 15 at 62. A longtime Watsonville resident, soft-spoken and easy going, Ciglar, among other things, played a huge role in community involvement and served at...

Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes braces for next wave

After the Loma Prieta Earthquake hit Watsonville in October of 1989, a group of people from St. Patrick’s Church established an emergency feeding program, aiming to support those affected by the disaster. Now, 30 years later, Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes (PVLF) is once again...

Sunset fly over | Photo Gallery

photography santa cruz
Have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to [email protected] or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the name...

Police: Murder suspect on bail was selling, growing pot illegally

Watsonville police officers were at a residence on Lawrence Avenue Friday morning, taking out numerous marijuana plants from the backyard and going in and out of the house.

PVUSD can meet financial obligations for next 3 years

pvusd trustees
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees heard a budget report Wednesday for financial activity that has occurred from July 1-Oct. 31, which shows the district is able to meet its obligations for the next three years. This so-called positive certification is a...

Monterey man dies in Highway 1 crash

sirens
A 77-year-old Monterey man died early Monday in a solo-vehicle crash on Highway 1 in Santa Cruz. California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said CHP officers were dispatched to a report of the crash around 4:40am at the exit from northbound Highway 1 to Highway...
7,695FansLike
4,949FollowersFollow
2,895FollowersFollow

Aptos wins first-ever CCS championship in school history | Boys soccer

The Aptos High boys’ soccer team went on an unprecedented postseason run during the 2025-26 winter season. It began with bringing home the program’s first-ever...