Animal welfare, police reform among new state laws
CALIFORNIA—Every year, state lawmakers send hundreds of bills to the governor in hopes they will be signed into law.
Many do not make the cut, and fall victim to the state’s lengthy legislative process. But last year 770 bills became law, and many became effective...
Transportation Commission votes for virtual meetings, for now
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) on Monday unanimously approved a plan to continue with virtual meetings for the coming year, as the Omicron variant of Covid-19 spreads and governing agencies across the state make similar moves.
Agencies that are continuing to...
Santa Cruz Gives raises more than $1M for nonprofits
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The seventh annual Santa Cruz Gives holiday crowdfunding campaign raised more than $1 million for local nonprofit organizations in 2021.
The milestone was reached after the campaign doubled in size, featuring 80 nonprofits on its online platform. Individual donors, matching funds, challenge gifts...
Virtual forum aims to encourage women leaders
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Women in Leadership for Diverse Representation (WILDR) will host a series of free virtual forums aiming to inspire and encourage women to serve in positions of leadership in Santa Cruz County.
WILDR was formed last year by Dorian Seamster, who brought together a...
Man shot on Madison Street
WATSONVILLE—A man was shot in a brazen daylight attack on Madison Street on New Year’s Eve.
Watsonville Police Department Sgt. Henry Robles said the suspect, a man in his early 20s wearing black clothing, shot the male victim on the street around 4:30pm near the...
County health officials: avoid the ER unless seriously ill
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County public health officials are asking that anyone with asymptomatic or mild coronavirus cases—or other non-serious illnesses—stay home and avoid unnecessary trips to already burdened hospital emergency departments.
The county also renewed its call for everyone eligible to get vaccinated or...
Pajaro Valley’s Congressional representation will change
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville residents will have a new representative at the federal level after the June primary following a massive political shift in the recent decennial redistricting process completed last month.
Formerly included in the 20th Congressional District with the rest of the Central Coast, Watsonville will...
Photo: Major injures in hillside plunge
Emergency officials pull the driver out of a Honda Civic on Hecker Pass Tuesday.
The California Highway Patrol said the male driver and a male passenger were traveling east on Hecker Pass Road (Hwy 152) at 2:45pm when the driver lost control. The Honda...
Rose Society to kick off pruning classes this weekend
WATSONVILLE—The Monterey Bay Rose Society (MBRS) will once again be holding its annual series of free rose pruning classes at various locations across the region.
Things kick off Saturday at 10:30am at the Display Rose Garden at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake...
County providing Covid-19 tests ahead of return to school
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—As students prepare to return to school on Jan. 4, districts across the county are offering families a tool to test their children for Covid-19 before they return.
While not required for return to class, the tests are “highly recommended,” Soquel Union Elementary...
Prevedelli Farms Approaches 80 Years
In October, as part of the annual Open Farm Tour, Prevedelli Farms invites the public to celebrate its eight decades of operation.
