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Watsonville
December 22, 2025

Suspect arrested with guns, drugs at Watsonville motel

watsonville police guns drugs
WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man with several outstanding felony warrants was arrested Dec. 2 when police found two loaded guns and nearly 200 grams of methamphetamine in his room. Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said officers arrested Angel Contreras, 35, at a motel on the 900 block...

Watsonville Veterans Memorial Building gets a boost

felipe hernandez veterans memorial building volunteers paint
A team of volunteers took on the task to bring new life to the Veterans Memorial Building on East Beach Street in Watsonville by replacing broken windows, pressure washing the front of the building, prepping, varnishing and adding a fresh coat of paint.  The effort...

Film workshops available: Cine Se Puede Summer Series

Local filmmakers are invited to participate in the two free remaining workshops presented by the Watsonville Film Festival to encourage regional filmmaking.  The new “Cine Se Puede Summer Series” supports BIPOC filmmakers with pre-production and production resources for their projects. Participants will learn about how...

State Supreme Court to decide on juvenile justice law

AJ Gonzalez court 5-17
SAN FRANCISCO—The family of an 8-year-old girl who was allegedly raped, tortured and murdered by a 15-year-old suspect is urging the California Supreme court to overturn a law that could allow him to walk free when he is 25. A.J. Gonzalez, now 21, is facing...

Regeneración honored by Mayor in Fourth parade

Regeneración was selected by Watsonville Mayor Francisco Estrada as the community-serving organization highlighted in the Spirit of Watsonville Fourth of July Parade — a new tradition that took the place of the grand marshal designation of the past.

Measure L funds nearly spent as 10-year anniversary nears

PVUSD Measure L
WATSONVILLE—In 2012, voters within the Pajaro Valley Unified School District approved Measure L, a $150 million bond that has funded construction and rehabilitation projects at nearly every facility in the district. And, one decade after its passage, the bond is drawing to a close. According to...

PVUSD Wellness Center reimagines student services

PVUSD wellness center
WATSONVILLE—As thousands of students throughout Pajaro Valley Unified School District bid farewell to their summer and prepare for a new year, educators and school employees are readying classrooms, sharpening pencils and honing their lesson plans. Such back-to-school preparations have always been a normal part of...

Early voting for June 7 election begins May 9

santa cruz rail trail
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Voters throughout Santa Cruz County have begun receiving their ballots for the June 7 election, which they will use to select a Governor, as well as a congressional representative and state senate and assembly member. The ballots are marked with a large blue...

Grand Jury reports probe government response, homelessness, risk preparedness

Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Grand Jury every year investigates different aspects of local government and civic operations throughout the county, and its findings typically produce detailed reports of positives and negatives found during the investigations. But while those investigated are required to respond...

Another PVUSD bond measure might be on the horizon

PVUSD Bond
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday received an update on various Measure L projects, some of which were completed over the past few months. The presentation included the completion of the long-awaited Pajaro Valley High School sports complex, and the...
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Casa de la Cultura hosts annual giveaway

Dozens of families lined up along Salinas Road in Pajaro Monday morning, children’s faces peering from backseat windows, as they waited their turn for...

Mixing Bowl: Sweet Pralines

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