Biden declares emergency, frees up federal aid
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—President Joe Biden on Saturday declared a disaster exists in the storm-damaged parts of California, freeing up federal aid to help state and local recovery efforts in Merced, Sacramento and Santa Cruz counties.
Biden’s declaration came hours after Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator...
Nursing assistant charged with sexual assault
Peter Francis Dunne of Santa Cruz was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on felony charges of assault with intent to rape, sexual assault with force, and oral copulation, Sgt. Dee Baldwin of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said.
Youth-inspired diversity mural completed
A crowd gathered inside the Louden Nelson Community Center on Saturday before heading outside to ceremoniously cut a rainbow ribbon in front of a completed mural.
Man shot, killed in Pajaro River bed
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police are investigating a fatal shooting in the Pajaro riverbed.
Ashley Keehn, spokeswoman for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, said the victim has been identified as John Michael Peña, 41.
Michelle Pulido, spokeswoman for Watsonville Police, said detectives were called to the scene of...
Watsonville business owner harnesses the power of social media
When the pandemic first hit, many retail stores across the globe were forced to shut down their brick-and-mortar locations and transitioned to online shopping, using virtual platforms to display and sell items.
For Sindy Hernandez, designer and owner of Queen’s Shoes & More in Watsonville,...
Caroline’s Thrift donates $550,000 to local nonprofits
SANTA CRUZ—In 2022, Coastal Kids Home Care provided in-home nursing care for 65 children with serious and life-threatening illnesses, work that also benefited 228 family members.
Such services are vital in Santa Cruz County, where an estimated 1,700 young people need such services, says Christine...
Aptos woman dies in Hwy. 17 crash
An Aptos woman died in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 17 Thursday.
House and Garden of the Month | July 2020
The Watsonville City Beautification Committee chose the home of Debra Carreiro, 504 Cedar Drive, as the House and Garden of the Month for July.
End of an era: Yamashita Market closing its doors this summer
WATSONVILLE—After more than seven decades in business, Yamashita Market—Santa Cruz County’s only store dedicated to Asian cooking supplies—is set to close its doors for good, likely sometime in July.
The store’s owner Goro Yamashita says that business was steadily declining even before Covid-19 forced businesses...
Man arrested in deputy’s killing makes first court appearance, delays plea
SANTA CRUZ—The man accused of killing a Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputy and trying to kill three other law enforcement officials and a civilian during a June 6 crime spree made his first court appearance Friday, but put off entering a plea until July...
