Man arrested after threatening woman, baby
A Watsonville man is in custody following an intense search by multiple law agencies Monday after reportedly threatening a woman’s life and her baby when he showed up at her Ford Street apartment with an assault rifle at 11am.
Javier Lopez, 31, was booked into...
A show of support on Labor Day
Hundreds of people around the Central Coast gathered for Labor Day in Watsonville, a federal holiday established in 1894 to stand up for labor and working families and to honor the nation’s workforce.
The free gathering began at 11am with live music, information tables, food...
Outgoing Chief Zamora celebrated
Watsonville Police Chief Jorge Zamora (left) is recognized by detective Colin Travers Friday during a farewell lunch at the Watsonville Police Department. Following 33 years of service with WPD, Zamora worked his way through a list of ranks and titles, including Chief for the...
Two injured as remote-controlled plane crashes into party
Two people were injured Saturday night when a remote-controlled plane smashed into their home on Buena Vista Drive, where they had gathered with friends and family to watch the Fire In The Sky Open House show at the nearby Watsonville Municipal Airport.
In a Facebook...
County fair on the horizon
A group of freestyle motorcycle daredevils called FMX Ramp-Age is coming to the Santa Cruz County Fair for the first time this year, promising in its website an “adrenaline-fueled extravaganza like no other.”
The fair runs from Sept.10-14.
The show will be led by freestyle motocross...
Watsonville City Council to consider renewing contract for license plate reader cameras
At an upcoming meeting, the Watsonville City Council will consider renewing a contract with Atlanta, Ga.-based Flock Safety, which has installed 20 license plate reader cameras throughout the city.
Watsonville signed a two-year contract with Flock in 2023 for $132,000.
In the past six months, the...
Fresno man found guilty in 1991 double-murder
An 86-year-old Fresno man was convicted on Aug. 26 for a double-murder committed more than three decades ago in Prunedale.
According to Monterey County Sheriff spokesman Andres Rosas, Ira Ulyesses Bastian murdered George Smith, 67, and Eva Thompson, 79 in a Prunedale restaurant on Nov....
Green Valley Road trail project celebrated
In the not-too-distant past, bicyclists and pedestrians traveling along Green Valley Road did so within an arms-reach of traffic along the busy corridor.
That has changed with the completion of the Green Valley Road Multi-Use Trail Project, a wide, two-mile pathway with enough room for...
PVHCD will seek partner to take over Watsonville Hospital’s day-to-day operations
This story has been updated from a previous version.
A cascading wave of fiscal challenges such as the election of President Donald Trump, his One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and a cyber attack, has Watsonville Hospital’s leadership team worried that it will not have...
Fire destroys two vehicles
A fire late Wednesday morning in Watsonville destroyed two vehicles in the area of Brennan Street and Freedom Boulevard.
Firefighters reported no injuries. The blaze erupted at about 10:15am in a 2024 Tesla and a Ford F150 van that were parked next to each other.
Witnesses...
Prep Athletes of the Week: MVC’s Boston Ashe; St. Francis’ Maya...
The Pajaronian’s Prep Athletes of the Week were selected based on their performances during the week of Sept. 8-14. Coaches and athletic directors are...
