News

Eight bicyclists rolled into Watsonville Monday afternoon on the second stop of the annual Fire Velo bike ride.  Their weeklong journey started in San Francisco and will wrap up in Santa Monica on June 6. Fire Velo is a national cycling organization that promotes physical and...

The City of Watsonville presented the Mayor’s Proclamation to Mental Health Liaison Reina Valencia during the city council meeting on May 26.  Mayor KrIstal Salcido handed the framed document to Valencia in recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness Month “for her dedication and continued...

A Watsonville man convicted of fatally shooting his roommate with an assault-style rifle in 2023 was sentenced Monday to more than 75 years to life in state prison. Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Denine Guy sentenced Hector Manuel Rocha on June 1 to 75...

Following the March 18 arrest of a 24-year-old Watsonville man for unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage girl, investigators have now added more charges that have expanded across state lines. Darwin Linares was initially arrested by Watsonville Police in March after he was found in...

Early results giving Monterey County District 2 Supervisor incumbent Glenn Church a commanding 71% lead over challenger Ramon Gomez were enough for Gomez to concede the race late Tuesday. In a text message to The Pajaronian, Gomez thanked his family, supporters, volunteers, donors and community...

Updated Thursday June 4 at 6pm Across Santa Cruz County elections for state and federal representation Tuesday night, there are few surprises, and a few expected results. As of Thursday afternoon, incumbent Rep. Jimmy Panetta led the 19th Congressional District race with 58.5% of the vote....

This story was updated June 4 at 6pm Soon after the polls closed Tuesday night, a group of roughly two-dozen supporters who had gathered in the Slice Project pizzeria on Main Street cheered when the first results came in. Their candidate, Tony Nuñez, had captured a...

If there is one place in Santa Cruz County where World Cup fever is expected to burn brightest, it may be Watsonville. “Soccer in Watsonville is extraordinarily unique,” Watsonville Parks and Recreation Director Jason Hall said during a countywide World Cup kickoff press conference on...

This story has been updated from a previous version. Watsonville Community Hospital CEO Stephen Gray will step down July 10 after leading the community-owned hospital for more than 2½ years, hospital officials announced Monday. The Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board, which oversees the hospital, has...

Santa Clara County officials, community organizers and residents gathered at the county government center in San Jose May 14 to oppose a federal plan to build an immigration detention facility on agricultural land just outside Gilroy city limits, vowing to fight the project in...