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Watsonville
October 7, 2026

Supervisors ease process for their own salary increases

The Santa Cruz County government building on Ocean Street. (Tarmo Hannula/Pajaronian file)
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a process that will allow them to approve their own raises. In a 3-2 vote, the board agreed to move away from a formula tying supervisors’ salaries to Superior Court judges, opening the door to...

Local officials: We will not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement

Local law enforcement, education and human services officials joined U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta on Tuesday to reassure immigrant families that local agencies will not participate in federal immigration enforcement, as officials described growing fear among residents seeking health care, education, housing and other services. Panetta...

Panetta vows to fight ‘Trump 2.0’ drilling plans

Ted Balestreri, CEO and Chairman of the Cannery Row Company, left, joins Monterey County Supervisor Supervisor Kate Daniels, at podium, along with Monterey Bay Aquarium CEO Jenny Gray, Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson and Save Our Shores Executive Director Katie Thompson. (Todd Guild/The Pajaronian)
During President Donald Trump’s first term in office, which began in 2017, his administration proposed a sweeping plan to open nearly all U.S. coastal waters to offshore oil and gas drilling, including 47 proposed lease sales. Those plans were thwarted amid opposition from local, state...

Who Got Out to Vote?

Joseph Eaton drops his ballot in the box at the City of Watsonville Civic Plaza voting station on June 2. (Tarmo Hannula/Pajaronian file)
Young voters barely turned out for the June primary, while people over 55 made a heavy showing.  Registered voters over the age of 55 displayed a turnout rate of about 67.83%, while those between the ages of 18-34 had a  29.52% turnout rate, based on...

Cesar Chavez Middle School to be Renamed

Editor's note: This story has been modified to correct an error: The family of Mas Hashimoto did not oppose having the school named after him. After news broke in March on Cesar Chavez’s sexual assault allegations, local leaders across the nation have begun removing his...

Annual homelessness census shows slight increase

In 2024, a string of tents and makeshift shelters lined the Pajaro River levee in Watsonville. (Tarmo Hannula/Pajaronian file)
The annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count conducted in January showed that 1,648 people were experiencing homelessness, a 12% increase from 2025. County officials cautioned that much of the increase reflects changes in how the count was conducted rather than a direct year-over-year increase in homelessness. For the...

Stolen truck leads to four arrests

Four people were arrested Tuesday and a stolen truck was recovered following a burglary investigation in Watsonville. Officers responded to the report Monday afternoon on the 200 block of Green Valley Road, Watsonville Police said.  Officers learned that a white Ford F-150 and several items from...

Two bodies, one an infant, found in Monterey County

Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Detectives are investigating two separate incidents involving the discovery of human remains. On Aug.1, just after 8:30am, North Monterey County Fire and Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a report of an infant that had been located near the area...

A night out with first responders

This story has been updated from an earlier version. Hundreds of people around the county joined up with law and fire agencies Tuesday during the annual National Night Out. Over four decades ago 2.5 million people in 400 communities in 23 states around the U.S....

Two juveniles arrested in Boardwalk shooting

Santa Cruz Police have arrested two 17-year-old juvenile males on suspicion of firing shots at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk late Monday night.Police said that around 9pm they received reports of shots fired at the parking lot across from the Boardwalk. On arrival, officers...
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Heather Contreras

Contreras tapped to lead San Luis Coastal Unified

Two and a half years after taking the helm of Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Superintendent Heather Contreras will be leaving for a new...