News

PASO ROBLES—The suspect who allegedly shot and killed a man and shot a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s deputy early Wednesday was killed by police Thursday. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office identified the shooter as Mason James Lira, 26, a transient from the Monterey area. Lira...

WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville is staring at more than $100 million of much-needed improvements and additions to its water system over the next 10 years. That’s according to the Water System Master Plan, a first-of-its-kind project the Watsonville City Council approved in April 2019 and...

A Santa Cruz man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly stabbed another man at Depot Park, a spot heavily attended by families engaged in soccer matches and other activities.

WATSONVILLE—What will happen if Measure Y does not pass in next month’s election? That question is difficult to answer, as Watsonville Administrative Services Director Cindy Czerwin said at Wednesday afternoon’s Measure G Oversight Committee meeting. When pressed by committee Chair Rick Danna on the matter, Czerwin...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The World Health Organization on Wednesday classified COVID-19 as a pandemic, as lawmakers and leaders worldwide grapple with rapidly growing numbers of cases. There are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, and 4,291 people have died. Thousands more have been hospitalized,...

A new law authored by Sen. John Laird—and signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom—will bolster safety standards for new battery storage facilities and improve coordination with fire officials.  Senate Bill 283 was sponsored by the California Professional Firefighters and the California State Association...

Community Bridges hired Darren Daley to take over as program director for Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County when Lisa Berkowitz caps off her four-decade career with the program in August.   Daley earned his Master of Public Administration in International Management from the Middlebury...

The annual Veterans Day parade returned this year after being canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic. About three dozen local veterans marched down Main Street and up Beach Street to the Mello Center for a celebration of their service in the armed forces.

WATSONVILLE—A Santa Cruz man has been arrested on suspicion of killing his reported girlfriend at an apartment complex on the 300 block of Clifford Avenue Tuesday evening. Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said Mexican authorities near the San Luis, Ariz. border crossing to Mexico...