Local News

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council at its Tuesday meeting will weigh whether to overhaul its tax rates on cannabis businesses, a move a consultant and city staff say would make the city more competitive with neighboring jurisdictions. The proposed changes would cut taxes on retail cannabis...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police Department is warning residents about a scam in which a caller pretends to be a police officer and asks for a callback to discuss “confidential legal matters.”  The caller reportedly falsely claimed to be WPD Sgt. Michael Ridgway. The person who received the call...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County health officials on Monday announced that a person who traveled to Seattle – and returned on a commercial flight in late February –  became the second confirmed case of coronavirus after a test on Sunday. The person, about whom health...

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved placing a moratorium on new vacation rentals countywide, along with several other rules meant to limit the growing industry. The trustees will consider on June 30 whether to extend the 45-day moratorium. Supervisor John...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Forty years ago, artist Annie Morhauser arrived in Santa Cruz County with a passion for glass and a dream to succeed. After graduating from the California College of the Arts with a degree in glassmaking, Morhauser set up shop in a small, 400-square-foot...

WATSONVILLE—On March 30, the Watsonville Municipal Airport (KWVI) announced it had renewed a two-year lease with Watsonville-based Urban Organics, aiming to bring fresh produce to the community as the sole organic farm within city limits. At the southernmost tip of airport property, just over the...

The Knights of Columbus Council 11804 is known for its annual Tootsie Roll Drive, a six-week effort at five local Catholic churches.

CORRALITOS—The Watsonville High School Class of 1965 held its 55th-year reunion on Sept. 25 after postponing the celebration last year due to the pandemic. Around 60 people, some from as far away as Arizona, Davis, Sacramento and Southern California, shared stories, jokes and a barbecue...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Panning Commission at its Tuesday meeting will look over plans for one large Main Street project and see a presentation on another. The commission will make a decision on the proposed construction of three one-story commercial buildings and two drive-throughs at 975-1075 Main...

Road trips around California—including Sacramento, Atascadero, the desert, San Diego or north to Half Moon Bay and Fort Bragg—have time and again proven worthy of the fuel, hotel costs and drive time for me and my wife Sarah over the past several years.  Whether an...