Pajaro River Levee project at risk after Trump claws back some funding
President Donald Trump has taken millions of dollars already allocated to blue states—and reallocated the funding to red states—impacting a wide array of ongoing critical infrastructure projects, including the Pajaro River Flood Management Project.
In a press conference Thursday, U.S. Democratic Senators Alex Padilla and...
Watsonville City Council hears plans for Tiny Village
The Tiny Village project in the parking lot of the Westview Presbyterian Church is set to break ground at the end of May or in early June, and is expected to provide shelter for 34 homeless people.
Community Action Board (CAB), which will manage the...
Supervisors get look at revised budget
If the Trump administration moves forward with plans to make sweeping cuts to health and human services as it hammers out its current budget, it will have far-reaching and profound impacts nationwide.
This includes to Santa Cruz County, where one-third of the people who receive...
Adult school celebrates its graduates
A nearly packed Mello Center saw the first graduation of the season in Pajaro Valley Unified School District Thursday evening with 173 graduates of Watsonville/Aptos/Santa Cruz Adult Education crossing the stage to collect their diplomas, degrees and certificates.
In fields including high school diplomas, GEDs,...
Photo story: The circus is in town
Circus Alegria, a Las Vegas-based circus entertainment group that has been around since 1912, kicked off their 2025 performance Thursday evening in Watsonville. With their massive big top tent dominating the entrance to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, the shows will run Thursday through...
Photo story: History fair a success
A man gathers information at the table for the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Saturday during the Santa Cruz County History Fair at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple. Over 30 tables, from Boulder Creek and Scotts Valley, to Davenport, Capitola, Santa Cruz and Watsonville, filled...
A pageant win, a beautiful career
Araceli Gonzalez was at a crossroads in life looking for a new start when she went to a concert and saw a group of women dressed in vintage clothing from the 1940s and ’50s.
“I said, ‘I want to try that style,’” she said. “And...
Watsonville Police Chief Jorge Zamora retiring after three years
The City of Watsonville on Thursday announced that Police Chief Jorge Zamora is retiring, with his last day set for Aug. 30.
The retirement will end a law enforcement career of more than three decades.
Zamora began as a police cadet when he was 15, and...
Capitola police arrest burglary suspect
Capitola Police on Tuesday arrested a burglary suspect after a chase that involved numerous law enforcement officials, and which closed down the streets surrounding the Shadowbrook restaurant.
The 37-year-old suspect was not identified. He was charged with resisting arrest, possession of stolen property and possession...
Prep Athletes of the Week: St. Francis’ Joseph Dayritt, Maya Calfee
The Pajaronian’s Prep Athletes of the Week were selected based on their performances during the week of Sept. 1-7. Coaches and athletic directors are...
