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Watsonville
January 16, 2026

Flood recovery information session to be held Thursday

WATSONVILLE—The public is invited to a flood recovery information session in Watsonville today to learn and ask questions about flood recovery and insurance issues. The meeting will be held at the Pajaro Village Community Room, 739 Bronte Ave., from 4-5pm.  Chief executive officer of Community Bridges...

County Supervisors ratify emergency declaration

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A little more than a week ago, a series of weather calamities began that assailed the Central Coast, bringing torrential rain that flooded several neighborhoods and destroyed multiple homes. In addition, a coastal swell decimated the wharf at Seacliff State Beach and rendered...

Photo: Ag fields underwater

Flooded agriculture fields reflect stormy skies and hoop house frames on a farm off of Riverside Drive in Watsonville. Evacuation orders for neighborhoods along the creeks and Pajaro River were downgraded to warnings this morning, but officials are asking the public to stay alert...

New evacuation orders issued in Watsonville

WATSONVILLE, CA- Evacuation orders have been issued for Watsonville neighborhoods with a high risk of flooding during this recent storm.  Residents are asked to evacuate immediately if their residence is within the red area on this map. City officials are encouraging evacuations, and asserting that choosing...

PVUSD closes all schools in advance of storm

PVUSD
WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District has closed all of its schools in advance of the storms expected to begin Sunday night, last through Tuesday and bring possible flooding throughout the District. PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez made the announcement Sunday afternoon. District officials will assess the storm...

Rains expected Sunday-Tuesday bring new flood worries

PAJARO—A cadre of elected and public officials gathered in Pajaro late Sunday morning to issue a dire warning in advance of a rainstorm expected to begin Sunday night and bring possible major flooding to Monterey and Santa Cruz counties through Tuesday. The messages, delivered in...

Tidal surge adds to damage as Santa Cruz County residents reel from storm

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Watsonville and Santa Cruz County officials on Thursday lifted the evacuation orders and flood warnings issued during the dual atmospheric river storms that came on Dec. 30 and Jan. 4, allowing residents to return home and breathe a sigh of relief that...

Watsonville native takes reins as mayor of Northern California’s largest city

SAN JOSE—Watsonville native Matt Mahan has been sworn in as mayor of Northern California’s largest city. The Harvard-educated 40-year-old businessman turned politician grew up on the outskirts of Watsonville in the 1980s and ’90s, just off Amesti Road near Pinto Lake. His mother taught at...

Girl Scout aims for Gold Award with art project at Mintie White

WATSONVILLE—Caitlin Bayaca is on track to earn the highest award of the Girl Scouts organization.  The Gold Award is designed for high school-age scouts and ambassadors, who create, propose and lead a major community service project. Bayaca, a senior at Aptos High School and part of...

Watsonville welcomes first baby of 2023

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville’s first baby of the year made his appearance at 4:09am, a five-and-a-half pound boy who makes the third child for Beneslao Lucas and Irma Lopez.  Josue Lucas made a surprise appearance at 36 weeks, but was healthy and lively on Monday morning at Watsonville...
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New leadership, shared priorities: Investing in the future of public safety

As we begin a new year, I want to reflect on the direction of public safety in Watsonville and the leadership helping guide that...