Local News

WATSONVILLE—This Saturday, Watsonville’s Arte del Corazon and Turtle Heart Events & Productions will bring a lineup of local and nationally-known Chicano and Latin musicians to perform at Romo Park in downtown Watsonville. The lineup includes Momotombo SF, featuring former members of Malo and Santana;...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A Santa Cruz County man who tested positive for COVID-19 died Saturday, marking Santa Cruz County’s first death from the coronavirus, the county’s Health Services Agency announced Sunday. The victim was in his early 70s and had an underlying health condition. He was...

SANTA CRUZ—A Santa Cruz man was arrested Aug. 21 on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance for sale at a home on the 500 block of Park Way. George Rivera, commander of the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, said Elijah Phoenix Francis, 21, was...

RIO DEL MAR—Nearly 11 months after a fire gutted the historic Seabreeze Tavern and severely weakened the structure, demolition of the building began Tuesday. The work is being conducted by a private contractor, Santa Cruz County spokesperson Jason Hoppin said. It is not clear what...

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On Feb. 26, the United Methodist Church (UMC) voted at a global conference in St. Louis, Mo. to further its restrictions on same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy.

WATSONVILLE—Leaders of this year’s 274 Pajaro Valley High School seniors say the class of 2020 will be remembered for its unwavering school pride and its crazed support of athletics. Dennar Ocampo and Natalia Arroyo were at the forefront of both. “A lot of people would say,...

WATSONVILLE—An 18-year-old was arrested at the Belgard Kup high school football game by officers with the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team (SCCACT) who say he was carrying a loaded, stolen handgun. An SCCACT detective saw Adrian Ayala during halftime of the annual game between Watsonville...

WATSONVILLE—A crew from the City of Watsonville was hard at work Wednesday installing a new cutout mural next door to the Nature Center at Ramsay Park. The 14-foot-tall piece, “Great White Egret,” was created by Salinas artist John Cerney and depicts a white egret about...

Special events 8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival (Jan. 18-Feb. 9)  The annual 10-minute play festival celebrates its 25th anniversary as the longest-running and most respected short play festival in the U.S. Sixteen awarded-winning short plays, from the annual international playwriting contest, are performed and...