Breath of fresh air
Santa Cruz County fared well in an air quality report released Wednesday, which state officials say is a testament to California’s stringent environmental laws.
Adult Ed’s new cosmetology program fills countywide need
WATSONVILLE—Since February, a small group of women has been hard at work, learning the detailed world of the beauty industry in Watsonville’s new—and Santa Cruz County’s only—cosmetology program.
The new program began with just six students, although Watsonville/Aptos/Santa Cruz Adult Education Director Nancy Bilicich expects...
Three arrested in October 2021 Watsonville homicide
WATSONVILLE—Two minors and a 20-year-old man have been arrested for their suspected involvement in the October 2021 murder of 21-year-old Abel Ruiz.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said deputies arrested Juan Carlos Almaraz Rios and two other suspects, who are not being...
Photo story: County celebrates the Fourth
Thousands of people lined the main streets of Watsonville and Aptos Thursday to watch the parades that have become a tradition stretching back decades.
The Spirit of Watsonville parade kicked off at 12:30pm, two hours after the Worlds Shortest Parade, which takes place in Aptos...
Watsonville’s downtown streets getting facelift
WATSONVILLE—Rodriguez, Union and Brennan streets will soon undergo much-needed pedestrian safety improvements.
Those three sections of Watsonville’s downtown corridor were tabbed for the first phase of the City’s Downtown Complete Streets Plan, an extensive document that sets a roadmap for a slew of street improvement...
Watsonville City Councilman mocks community member during meeting
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville City Councilman Lowell Hurst is being criticized for taunting a community member during a Sept. 8 virtual meeting.
Hurst in the video recording of the meeting could be seen patting himself on the back, mocking comments made by a Watsonville resident during public comment....
Two crashes occur in two days in same location
A pair of crashes in two days knocked out power and tore down two utility poles a few hundred feet apart on Airport Boulevard.
The first crash occurred at 7:55am Sunday when a woman lost control of her SUV and smashed into a utility pole...
Census: Homeless population declines, except in Watsonville
A census of Santa Cruz County’s homeless population taken in February shows a 21.5% decline since the last count in 2021.
Still, one in every 146 Santa Cruz County residents still do not have access to housing, according to the 2023 Homeless Count and Survey,...
