Local News

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a series of 11 expenditures at eight schools aimed at preparing for students to return to class in January. The projects include upgrades to heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems (HVAC), and window...

CASTROVILLE—Three men were killed and another was injured by gunfire early Monday in Castroville during a party that spilled out onto the streets. On Tuesday the victims were identified as Julian Gallegos, 30, Jeff Robles, 21, and Juliani Robles, 21—all of Salinas—according to the Monterey...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees in an emergency meeting Saturday unanimously approved a plan to close all district schools for two weeks, and allow most employees to work from home.  Essential staff will provide services such as food, custodial and technology,...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County officials on Monday ordered all residents to stay home unless engaging in “essential activities, essential governmental functions, or to operate essential businesses.” In addition, all public and private outdoor gatherings are prohibited, as is all non-essential travel. Residents can still go...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police on Thursday arrested a Salinas woman accused of embezzling more than $75,000 from a Watsonville business located on Hangar Way. Julie Brooks, 50, faces felony grand theft charges. She was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on $100,000 bail, but was not in...

WATSONVILLE—The company that purchased Watsonville Community Hospital two years ago—Los Angeles-based Halsen Healthcare—has been removed from a leadership role as of Jan. 18. Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings will now run the hospital on an interim basis. The announcement came Monday via an email to...

Anyone passing through the streets of downtown Watsonville for the next few nights may notice a crew shooting for an upcoming film. The production includes a car rigged with cameras and lights, and will take place in local restaurants and wetlands. The film is “They Know...

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man died early Friday morning in a solo-vehicle crash on Amesti Road. California Highway Patrol officer Sam Courtney said the 33-year-old victim was driving a blue 1998 Volkswagen Beetle eastbound on Amesti Road east of Cypress Lane, at an unknown speed at 12:28am....

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County officials on Friday said they will not yet join five other Bay Area counties in preemptively adhering to the regional stay-at-home order announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday. Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Marin and Santa Clara counties will adopt...

It has been nearly two years since El Frijolito, one of Watsonville’s best known taquerias, closed its doors to allow the owners to remodel and expand. That project is now complete, and owner Sergio Carrera plans to reopen the renovated restaurant on Nov. 8. for...