Local News

WATSONVILLE—Santa Cruz METRO has taken a big step in combating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with the launch of two new electric buses, which will operate on a new route through the city of Watsonville. On Tuesday METRO staff, along with city officials, representatives from electric...

WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville celebrated two reopenings Friday, hosting a socially-distanced ribbon-cutting ceremony for the rebuilt Muzzio Park playground and removing some Covid-19 restrictions from its 26 parks. A handful of community members joined City staff and Watsonville City Councilman Felipe Hernandez at Muzzio Park...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police seized 16 firearms from 12 different cases in February. “The list of guns seized by Watsonville Police officers keeps growing,” said Michelle Pulido, spokeswoman for WPD. “Most of these guns were used to commit some sort of crime in Watsonville and were in...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Public Works employees teamed up with Watsonville police and fire departments Tuesday to dismantle a camp that homeless advocates set up on Dec. 12 in a city-owned parking lot adjacent to the Buddhist Temple on Bridge Street. With signage posted about the small encampment...

SANTA CRUZ—Two Santa Cruz men were arrested March 12 during a traffic stop after police found them in possession of guns, open containers of alcohol and illegal drugs. Clyde Ortega, 28, and Mauricio Morales, 22, were charged with a variety of weapons and narcotic crimes....

WATSONVILLE—More than two dozen community members at Tuesday night’s Watsonville City Council meeting showed resounding support for the Pajaro Valley Arts Council’s planned rebuild of the historic Porter Building, a City of Watsonville-owned property at the gateway of downtown. And a competing proposal from...

Keep the umbrella and raincoat handy; here comes another wet storm. The National Weather Service has posted a wind advisory and flash flood watch starting this afternoon through 3 a.m. Wednesday. Rain is likely after 4 p.m. today.

WATSONVILLE—Since 2014 there have been eight unsolved gang-related homicides in Watsonville, according to Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido. Many of those victims’ mothers—and those of countless other gang-related homicide victims from the Pajaro Valley—are still holding out hope that one day that will change. Sunday’s...

The Santa Cruz County Fair is seeking a new leader. The 14th District Agricultural Association and Santa Cruz County Fair is accepting applications for its Fair Manager, who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of our 105-acre fairgrounds in Watsonville, including planning and managing the...