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Watsonville
January 13, 2026

Patricia Solano dies

Patricia Gospodnetich Solano, a lifelong Watsonville resident who raised five children and variously worked as a teacher, a telephone operator and a legal secretary, died Monday after an illness. She was 78.

5% containment in 1,500-acre Big Sur fire

A wild land fire in the rugged mountains of Big Sur near Palo Colorado Canyon Road and the famed Bixby Bridge has led to the mandatory evacuations of residents, according to Cecile Juliette of Cal Fire.  The fire, which could be seen from Santa Cruz...

Regional Women’s Business Center launches in Watsonville

WATSONVILLE—California Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) has announced the launch of a new business center in Watsonville for women entrepreneurs. El Pájaro Women’s Business Center (WBC) will be formed through El Pájaro Community Development Corporation (CDC), a local nonprofit organization aiming to promote equal access...

Watsonville Strawberry Festival returns this weekend

The Watsonville Strawberry Festival will return Sunday to downtown, bringing with it a full day of strawberry delicacies, live entertainment, artisan vendors and more. Like most events in 2020, South County’s premier festival was canceled in response to the pandemic. And for a while, the...

Cabrillo College kicks off new ag tech center

In an era where agriculture meshes with technology — and environmental sustainability is a rule — Cabrillo College has created a major that combines all three.

‘Tis the season: Fairgrounds offers Holiday Lights drive-thru event

Holiday Lights Drive-thru fairgrounds
WATSONVILLE—Two local organizations are hoping to shine a brilliant holiday light during troubling times. The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation and the Agricultural History Project are in the midst of crafting the first-ever Holiday Lights Drive-Thru event as an alternative celebration for the holiday season...

Santa Cruz County health officials urge public to get vaccinated

santa cruz county vaccines
SANTA CRUZ—A group of high-ranking medical care providers and officials on Thursday gathered at Santa Cruz’s Emeline health complex, a press conference convened to get a single message out to the public. “We want to drive home the importance today of everyone eligible in our...

Police seek double-carjacking suspect

Ben Lomond shooting
Update at 7:18pm: The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputy who was shot while trying to arrest a man suspected in Saturday afternoon's double-carjacking in Felton has died, a law enforcement source confirmed. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed...

Candidate calls for Councilwoman Parker to resign after probe into his profession

Watsonville city council
WATSONVILLE—A candidate for Watsonville City Council is calling for Councilwoman Ari Parker to resign for abuse of power after she challenged his standing as a teacher on his candidate statement, and asked City officials to scrub his designation. But Parker is saying that she...

Man arrested for Friday night stabbing

Watsonville Police on Saturday arrested a suspect for allegedly stabbing a man behind a Watsonville shopping center Friday night.
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County Supervisors approve draft BESS ordinance

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday moved forward with proposed rules aimed at regulating large-scale battery energy storage systems, which if...

Teen arrested after chase