News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) lifted its mandatory face mask mandate for vaccinated staff and riders effective Tuesday.  The move came a day after the Transportation Security Administration advised public transport operators that they no longer need to enforce the federal...

Ever since the countywide shelter-in-place order was put into effect in mid-March, Watsonville restaurants, coffeeshops and other establishments have been navigating a new frontier. While many closed their doors, others jumped head-first into the world of take-out and delivery. Now, as restrictions begin to loosen...

SCOTTS VALLEY—A Santa Cruz man was arrested Saturday night for driving under the influence of alcohol after a crash on Highway 17 injured him and his passenger. Jacob Rush, 25, and his 24-year-old female passenger were taken to a trauma center with major injuries. According to...

WATSONVILLE—Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for Watsonville neighborhoods with a high risk of flooding during this Wednesday’s storm, which is said to hit the region early tomorrow morning.  City officials urge residents who live within this map's blue-shaded area to evacuate tonight. Choosing not...

Santana lead singer Andy Vargas visited Watsonville High School to announce a Dec. 8 benefit concert in the Henry J. Mello Center, which will raise money for scholarships for WHS students.

WATSONVILLE—Should Watsonville expand outward in an effort to meet mounting housing and economic needs? Or will it continue to restrict its growth, and increase its housing density in favor of protecting every inch of the rich surrounding agricultural land? These are the questions Watsonville voters...

WATSONVILLE—The annual Summer Fun in Watsonville Outback Cutting competition is unfolding at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Around 280 horses arrived mid-week for the five-day event that drew folks from around California, Arizona, Colorado and Texas. Cutting is a western-style equestrian competition where a horse and...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Panning Commission at its Tuesday meeting will look over plans for one large Main Street project and see a presentation on another. The commission will make a decision on the proposed construction of three one-story commercial buildings and two drive-throughs at 975-1075 Main...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The county’s first Filipino American judge was recently appointed as a Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge by Gov. Gavin Newsom. “My knees went weak when I got the call,” said Jerry Bustos Vinluan III. “I was overwhelmed. It was later in the...