News

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville man who died Dec. 15 after he was struck by a car as he walked along West Beach Street has been identified as Abel Elizondo Rodriguez, 42. Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said Rodriguez was walking partially in the westbound lane in front...

SANTA CRUZ—Five young people were rescued from giant surf Sunday after their sailboats were knocked over during a High Surf Advisory at the mouth of the Santa Cruz Harbor. The incident started when two groups of six small sailboats from the Santa Cruz Yacht Club’s...

WATSONVILLE — The new Hampton Inn & Suites on Lee Road is slated for an early March opening. Owner Juggy Tut said he is excited about the doors finally swinging open at the 112-room, four-story inn that has largely been constructed during the pandemic. “We’re looking...

The Pajaronian’s website received a complete overhaul Wednesday. The Pajaronian, the news leader of the Pajaro Valley since 1868, launched the new, intuitive design to improve and streamline our readers’ digital experience. The new website can be found at pajaronian.com.  Additionally, the website for our monthly Life...

Work continues on Harkins Slough Road of 48 single-family townhomes on a 4.72-acre site behind Ramsay Park.

SOQUEL—Two employees who work at the Safeway grocery store on 41st Avenue in Soquel have tested positive for Covid-19, company spokeswoman Wendy Gutshall said. One employee has not worked since May 23, and the second since May 30, she said. “That store has been through multiple...

APTOS—Plans are moving forward with the Aptos Branch Library project to raze the existing 8,000-square-foot building near the corner of State Park and Soquel drives, and build a 12,400-square-foot replacement. While the wrecking ball is not expected to swing loose until next summer, strides have...

Note: Reporter Tony Nuñez contributed to this story WATSONVILLE—Thousands of Santa Cruz County residents living in the county’s northern reaches have been ordered to evacuate as the CZU August Lightning Complex fires have spread throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains. Temporary shelters have been set up across...

At the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Friday, a stilt-walking instructor named sCary McHuge was putting up a giant tent-like structure to offer shade and relaxation at a makeshift campsite dubbed the Offcenter Camp Cafe.