News

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputy who shot 15-year-old Lucas Smith after a standoff with police will not face criminal charges, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell said Friday.

WATSONVILLE—The developer behind a 150-unit housing project off Ohlone Parkway is asking the Watsonville City Council for a one-year extension on the project’s approval. First approved by the council in 2018 as Sunshine Vista, Hillcrest Estates was set to transform an 11-acre junkyard at 511...

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A weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like.

WATSONVILLE—Despite the economic shutdowns resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the city of Watsonville’s overall sales tax revenues have held steady thanks to a myriad of reasons, including a sharp rise in online and local shopping. That’s according to Administrative Services Director Cindy Czerwin who at...

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to expand the county’s Focused Intervention Team (FIT), which pairs law enforcement officials with behavioral health specialists and other supportive services to address high-frequency criminal offenders. The program launched on Jan....

WATSONVILLE—For 12 years, Sherry Dang and Kirk di Cicco, husband-and-wife owners of five local franchised 7-Eleven stores, have made it a point to give back to their community during Thanksgiving. And the Covid-19 pandemic was not going to stop them from continuing that tradition...

A weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like. Tony Nuñez Food: The Farm House: Dino’s Stuffed Burger The Farm House restaurant has been open for some time now, but because our offices are downtown I have not had...

Rev. John Juno Song, pastor at the Watsonville First United Methodist Church, shows off one of ten new "icons" recently installed in the church's sanctuary. Icons are traditionally Eastern Orthodox works of art placed into churches through a dedication ceremony. Song said he has...

WATSONVILLE—Some 80 people gathered in the Watsonville Civic Plaza Monday evening to welcome in Jorge Zamora as Watsonville Police Department’s new chief. A homegrown officer who started with the department as a cadet at the age of 15, Zamora said in a speech before being...