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WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Planning Commission tonight will see staff’s proposed changes to the city’s rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), also known as “granny flats” or “granny units.” The proposed changes, in short, would bring the city’s rules in alignment with several state housing bills passed...

Gravesites are marked with flags on Memorial Day at the Evergreen Cemetery in Harvest West Park in Santa Cruz Monday. Previously known as Decoration Day, it is a federal holiday in the U.S. designed to honor and mourn military personnel who died while serving in the armed...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A man was arrested on suspicion of driving a stolen truck and trying to evade police after he charged past their blockade on Highway 1 Monday. California Highway Patrol officer Sam Courtney said the incident began when the CHP had to shut down...

SALINAS—Two inmates escaped from the Monterey County Adult Detention Facility early Saturday. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said 21-year-old Santos Samuel Fonseca and 20-year-old Jonathan Salazar were both awaiting trial on unrelated murder charges along with numerous other felony charges. The MCSO said Sunday it was...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday took a look at the district’s use of police officers on high school campuses, an issue that has taken the forefront across the U.S. in the wake of several recent high-profile cases of...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police on Thursday arrested 27-year-old twin brothers for allegedly stabbing two men on the 100 block of Grant Street on Aug. 30, Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said. Angel Sanchez was arrested in Watsonville. Victor Sanchez was arrested in San Jose. Both were booked...

APTOS—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies issued misdemeanor citations at five mid-county businesses after employees allegedly sold alcohol or tobacco to minor decoys, Sheriff’s Lt. Greg Lansdowne said.  The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Alcohol and Tobacco Compliance Unit conducted the Nov. 7 decoy operation at...

Editor's note: This story was updated from a previous version. There were at least 56 fatalities on the highways and 709 DUI arrests across California over the New Year’s holiday, California Highway Patrol officer Sam Courtney said. The totals are a steep climb from last year’s...

WATSONVILLE—Santa Cruz County has some work to do in the fight against obesity, discrimination and housing inequality. But it’s making steady progress in the diversity of its student body, teenage pregnancy rates and the number of incarcerated young people. That’s according to the annual Santa...