Local News

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville city officials on Friday closed the City Hall building for a deep cleaning after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, City Manager Matt Huffaker confirmed. The employee is now self-isolating and under medical care, Huffaker said.  All employees that were in direct contact with the...

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday is expected to announce the closure of all beaches and state parks starting Friday, multiple national news agencies reported late Wednesday night. The news comes days after Gov. Newsom expressed concern over numerous photos of people crowding beaches throughout the...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Gov. Gavin Newsom on May 14 released an updated state budget that calls for a 10 percent cut to school districts across the state. Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez said that the district is looking at a $19.18 million slash. Watsonville/Aptos/Santa...

WATSONVILLE—At Renaissance High School 56 students graduated this year and took part in an unorthodox drive-through ceremony June 3 to pick up their diplomas. First-year principal Deanna Young said dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, especially as graduation approached, called for tremendous resources at her...

Hundreds attended Wednesday’s memorial for Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was gunned down while on duty June 6 in Ben Lomond. A miles-long motorcade that started at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and threaded through the county began the day. Hundreds...

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SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Monday arrested a Santa Cruz man on several felony sex crimes, sheriff’s spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said. Lucas Klatt, 39, was charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a child, annoying or molesting a child and burglary. Klatt is known...

The Fourth of July is a special day of celebration for every community around the nation. In celebrating Independence Day, we recognize everything and everyone that makes up the United States. That leaves plenty of room for interpretation. The definition of “American” is wholly...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Watsonville firefighters had a “very busy Fourth of July” as they responded to a total of 24 calls in the 24-hour period surrounding the holiday, including medical calls and fires to vegetation, dumpsters and structures. Units were also out patrolling for illegal...