Local News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—When Sandra Nichols was elected to the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) Board of Trustees, the long-time educator—known for being well-prepared for meetings—says she made it a point to attend every one. In her time on the PVUSD board, which lasted from...

WATSONVILLE—On Tuesday morning, author, documentary filmmaker and Portuguese National Television correspondent Nelson Ponta-Garça was busy setting up a video camera in the Watsonville City Council Chambers.  He was there to interview Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra for a special segment about Portuguese communities in California. The...

Tarmo Hannula: Our Medditerean climate leaves little to complain about — mild summers, with a few hot spells; mild winters with a few cold weeks and some challenging storms. But these roasting hot days this week and with the scorchers of mid-August that brought us...

The Santa Cruz County Supervisors on Tuesday signaled their support for three human-services programs at risk of being cut when the board meets June 10 to hammer out this year’s budget. Under the current budget proposal, Mental Health Client Action Network (MHCAN) loses its $587,000...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—As the statewide eviction moratorium expires on June 30, many renters with past due bills as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic are still waiting for financial help which, unless they take action, might never come. Across Santa Cruz County, some 2,666 people...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency Board of Directors on Dec. 18 voted unanimously to expand its water supply services into an area impacted by seawater intrusion. The initial phase of F-Pipeline Expansion Project will construct additional pipelines to provide supplemental water service to approximately...

I covered a shooting in Santa Cruz yesterday by Dominican Hospital. Witnesses said it was a young Latino male. They said they heard three of four shots and then saw a black BMW sedan tear away. The Sheriff’s Office said it appears the victim...

In my travels about town, I’m always on the lookout for something different, original, funny for the camera. One such find was on Cutter Drive the other day. It was the front half of a motorcycle emerging from the front of a garage. Different,...

WATSONVILLE—A 55-year-old man was allegedly killed late Tuesday by his 38-year-old brother on the 100 block of Delaney Avenue in the outskirts of Watsonville.  Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said detectives believe Seledonio Diaz, of Watsonville, killed his brother Francisco Diaz. Detectives tracked...

In next year’s city-wide elections voters will be able to donate up to $500, a $100 increase from the previous limit passed in 2010. The limit will increase by $25 every two years starting in 2022.