News

WATSONVILLE—As the aroma of sizzling meats, tortillas and salsa wafted across the parking lot of Watsonville Police Department May 11, a swarm of retired and current police officers and WPD staff gathered for a friendly send off to Sgt. Bryan Fuentez on his final...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz METRO has increased its passenger capacity by 50% in an effort to accommodate more riders, but that decision has raised concerns within the union representing the bus operators still working during the Covid-19 pandemic. METRO CEO Alex Clifford announced on June...

Food, gadgets, cars, safety demonstrations and more will all be under one roof, and out in the parking lot, during the annual Business Showcase.

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday joined other Santa Cruz County municipalities in enacting a moratorium on no-fault evictions until a new state law limiting rent increases and requiring just-cause evictions goes into effect next year. The emergency ordinance passed unanimously with councilwoman Trina Coffman-Gomez...

WATSONVILLE—As firefighters continue to “mop up” a blaze in the Watsonville foothills sparked by a prescribed burn that went awry, some Santa Cruz County officials and residents are calling for the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit (CZU) to answer lingering questions surrounding the...

Participating in the 25th year of riding to end AIDS, more than 3,000 cyclists and volunteer "roadies" will ride out of Cow Palace in San Francisco on Sunday to launch their seven-day, 545-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

SANTA CRUZ—As a crane hoisted four sections of a large mosaic-covered water dragon into place Sunday atop a colorful concrete gateway at an entryway to San Lorenzo Park, new life was pumped into a forgotten chapter of Santa Cruz history. Renamed the Chinatown Bridge by...

AROMAS—A large wildland fire in Aromas that started on July 21 charred 104 acres and was 100% contained as of Thursday, Cal Fire spokesperson Cecile Juliette said. At 3:21pm on July 21, two fires broke out behind Graniterock’s AR Wilson Quarry east of Aromas. Cal...

Vote for new public art at Ramsay The City of Watsonville, Pajaro Valley Arts and Community Arts & Empowerment is asking the public to vote for its preferred artwork to be placed on the entryway of the Community Center at Ramsay Park. The choices have been...

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...