PHOTO: Freedom Boulevard down to two lanes
Traffic is channeled into one lane in each direction in what once was both southbound lanes of Freedom Boulevard Thursday as major improvement work continues. Joshua Nol of McKim Corporation said all traffic has been shifted to the west side of the road, while...
Watsonville businesses embrace outdoor operations
WATSONVILLE—As many shelter-in-place restrictions remain in place due to Covid-19, state, county and city officials have looked for ways to allow businesses to open safely.
This has included moving outdoors—onto sidewalks, into parking lots and even streets. Watsonville businesses have slowly been making the move,...
Thousands flock to World’s Shortest Parade
The Fourth of July parade unfolded along a section of Soquel Drive Thursday, with 103 entries in what has been branded as the World’s Shortest Parade.
Bill H.R. 4696 would provide pathway to citizenship
Martin Rubalcava came to the U.S. in 1979 from Mexico, and before he earned his citizenship constantly worried about getting rounded up by immigration officials.
“With the papers, I could begin to feel safe,” he said through a translator. “I could invest, help my kids...
Dozens of renters still await help on eve of moratorium deadline
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—As the statewide eviction moratorium expires on June 30, many renters with past due bills as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic are still waiting for financial help which, unless they take action, might never come.
Across Santa Cruz County, some 2,666 people...
County joins lawsuit to halt oil, mineral extraction
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 agreed to allow the county to join a lawsuit that would stop the federal government from issuing leases for fossil fuel extraction within its borders.
The lawsuit would in essence help preserve local...
Aptos man arrested after high-speed chase
SANTA CRUZ—An Aptos man was arrested Friday morning following a dramatic chase around Santa Cruz and over Highway 17.
James Johnston, 37, of Aptos, was taken into custody near Scotts Valley on a host of charges.
Around 7am Santa Cruz Police received multiple calls of a...
New beginnings | About Town
Tarmo Hannula: Two new police officers will officially hit the streets this weekend in Watsonville to begin their 20-week Field Training phase. When they are done, they will join four others in their various stages of training, which will eventually add up to a...
Biden declares emergency, frees up federal aid
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—President Joe Biden on Saturday declared a disaster exists in the storm-damaged parts of California, freeing up federal aid to help state and local recovery efforts in Merced, Sacramento and Santa Cruz counties.
Biden’s declaration came hours after Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator...
Man arrested for sexual abuse lasting 'several years'
A 19-year-old Watsonville man was arrested Thursday after an underage girl told police he had been sexually abusing her for several years.
PVUSD Sustainable Schools Advisory team launches
Facing years of declining enrollment likely to take a multimillion-dollar bite out of its budget—coupled with federal education cuts and an impending recession—Pajaro Valley...
