News

WATSONVILLE—In January, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan for County staff to apply for a piece of state housing funds through a program known as Project Homekey. That project, administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD),...

SANTA CRUZ—The 12th Annual Latino Role Models conference will return on March 12 in a virtual format, with prominent community organizer and activist Dolores Huerta serving as this year’s keynote speaker. Local nonprofit Senderos, which aims to inspire students to achieve their education and career...

APTOS—Students at Aptos Junior High School walked into their newly renovated multipurpose room on Feb. 22, and couldn’t help but jump around on the new, shiny hardwood floors of the space that incorporates a gymnasium and auditorium. “They were just super pumped,” said Aptos Junior...

A giant $8,000 check is presented to Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services Friday by State Senator Laird (second from left) along with Spectrum representatives. The money is part of Spectrum's digital education grant, a five-year, $7 million commitment to digital education in Spectrum...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Students throughout Santa Cruz County will no longer be required to wear masks while at school after March 11. The announcement, signed by the County’s 11 school superintendents, came Monday after California Gov. Gavin Newsom, along with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Washington...

SALINAS—A Salinas Police Department officer was shot and killed on Feb. 25 during a traffic stop, and a suspect has been arrested. Salinas Chief of Police Roberto Filice said that around 10:45pm Officer Jorge David Alvarado, Jr. made a traffic stop on Griffin Street at...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Author Buzz Anderson always dreamed of writing the great American novel. Born in San Jose and then moving with his family to Capitola, Anderson has remained in Santa Cruz County for most of his life, attending local public schools, Cabrillo College and UC...

Belle Espinoza, 10, shows an egg that withstood a four-story drop to the ground Wednesday with her homemade contraption alongside Darren Gertler, Environmental Education Coordinator. Thirty-two youths took part in the 19th annual Egg Drop competition as part of Engineer’s Week in downtown Watsonville....

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Community Band kicked off its yearlong 75th Anniversary celebration Wednesday during a break in its regular rehearsal in the band room at Watsonville High School. The date coincided with the very first rehearsal of what was then called Watsonville Sciots Band in 1947. “We’re...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County is seeing a decline in its cannabis industry, with tax revenues falling far short of projections for the 2021-22 fiscal year. County officials say that current revenues of $1.68 million are lagging behind projections by more than $1 million, and...