Local News

The California Highway Patrol is not only searching for speeding motorists and expired registrations: They’re also on the lookout for new officers. Israel Murillo Jr., public information officer with the Santa Cruz area CHP, was campaigning recently at the Santa Cruz County Fair with a...

Corralitos artist Sylvia Valentine is gearing up to show her original nature photography in the annual Open Studios Art Tour. Her photography stems from her travels with her husband around the United States, Bali, New Zealand, Thailand, Canada and Mexico.  “Many of my favorite photos are...

After 12 years of running Watsonville’s only bookstore, Kelly Pleskunas will hang up her closed sign at Kelly’s Books for the last time Nov. 4. “I want to send a heartfelt thank you to all the customers who have supported me these past 12 years,”...

The 2023 Santa Cruz County Fair wrapped up Sept. 17 with greater attendance than years past. From monster trucks and pig races to LEGO models, homemade quilts, original paintings, bonsai trees, antique tractors, live music, poodle shows and giant pumpkins, the fair unfolded under...

Live music and folkloric dance performances unfolded in Watsonville Plaza Friday evening thanks to the Watsonville Film Festival and Cabrillo College’s Hispanic Serving Institution Week. Mexican Fiesta was a two-hour free family event that featured Mariachi Juvenil Corazón Jaliscience from Hollister and Laura Rebolloso,...

Each year during the first three weekends in October, the public is invited to a free countywide self-guided art tour. Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s 37th annual Open Studios Art Tour features 322 artists who will open their studios across Santa Cruz County.  The tour...

Plans to build 624 units of affordable student housing on Cabrillo College’s Aptos campus got the green light Monday when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to fund the project. The dual Senate and Assembly bills, both numbered 142, will provide $111 million for the...

The Pajaro Valley Health Care District Hospital Corporation on Thursday named the person they want to take the helm at Watsonville Community Hospital as CEO. Stephen Gray was chosen after a four-month recruitment search by the corporation. Gray is currently the chief administrative officer for Sutter...

Smoke from wildfires burning in northern California and southern Oregon drifted over the Monterey Bay Area Tuesday and has degraded air quality in parts of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties.  The Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) said concentration of smoke has reached...