73.8 F
Watsonville
October 20, 2025

One dead, houses damaged in windstorm

A man was killed in Boulder Creek after a tree crashed into his home, as winds pounded Santa Cruz County after several heavy rainstorms on Sunday. Santa Cruz County Sheriff's spokeswoman Ashley Keehn identified the man as as 45-year-old Robert Brainard III. Deputies and firefighters responded...

Tuttle Mansion hosting nonprofit fundraiser

WATSONVILLE—The outside of the historic Tuttle Mansion is currently adorned with electric Christmas lights for the first time ever. While the iconic Watsonville home, designed by architect William Weeks, seems like the perfect structure for holiday decorations, there is a reason why it hasn’t undergone...

The brains behind traffic signals

WATSONVILLE—Do you ever wonder who or what is controlling the traffic signals when you’re languishing at a seemingly endless red arrow, or the green light that suddenly switches in your favor without having to get near your brake pedal? It’s all run by those metal...

Homegrown officer takes over as Watsonville Police Chief

Jorge Zamora watsonville
WATSONVILLE—Some 80 people gathered in the Watsonville Civic Plaza Monday evening to welcome in Jorge Zamora as Watsonville Police Department’s new chief. A homegrown officer who started with the department as a cadet at the age of 15, Zamora said in a speech before being...

Cabrillo president rejects ‘Eurocentric’ description of school’s namesake

Cabrillo college name change
APTOS—As Santa Cruz County’s community college begins efforts to possibly rebrand itself with a new name—and reject the name of Spanish Explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo—two drastically different pictures of the man at the center of the debate have emerged. Cabrillo College began to explore a...

PG&E warns of phone and email scams

PG&E
CENTRAL COAST—Officials at Pacific Gas & Electric are warning the public of emerging phone and email scams where impostors demand immediate payment for a SmartMeter deposit to avoid disconnection of service. PG&E spokesperson Mayra Tostado said that in recent weeks, PG&E has received dozens of...

Santa Cruz Balsamics continues to grow

Owner works from Watsonville’s El Pajaro CDC For Kim Tush, the best part of her job is being able to work on her feet. Just a few years ago, Tush was paralyzed after a surgery complication. Following her recovery, she decided to take a big step—literally...

Duty, Honor, Country: Watsonville celebrates its veterans

watsonville veterans day
WATSONVILLE—With police vehicles leading the way—their emergency lights flashing bright in the late-morning sun—a squad of Boy Scouts, U.S. Naval Sea Cadets and military veterans marched down East Lake Avenue Friday to kick off Watsonville’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. The parade ended at the Henry...

WPD Chief condemns​ ‘disgusting​’ killing of George Floyd

Watsonville Police chief David Honda
Watsonville Police Chief David Honda on Friday released this video condemning the May 25 killing of George Floyd. In a video that has been viewed by millions of people around the world, Minneapolis, Minn. police officer Derek Chauvin was seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck...

Five-story development planned for downtown

After recently wrapping up a major housing and retail project downtown, a local developer has plans to build a similar project just a block away.
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Thousands attend No Kings rallies

Thousands of people crowded into Watsonville Plaza and surrounding streets Saturday as part of the nationwide No Kings protest against President Trump, his administration...