News

WATSONVILLE—Alternative lenders outnumber mainstream lenders by more than 3-1 in Watsonville. That’s according to a joint report from Santa Cruz Community Ventures (SCCV) and UC Santa Cruz’s Blum Center presented to the public in Watsonville’s Civic Plaza on Tuesday. The report, called “Mamas con Mas,” identified...

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees late Friday night tabled an effort to appoint an interim superintendent after a trustee reconsidered an earlier vote to fire district Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez.

Fourth grade students from Mar Vista Elementary School get an up-close view of a Robinson 22 helicopter Tuesday during a tour of the Watsonville Municipal Airport. Now in its third year, the community outreach program by the Municipal Airport exposed kids to various aspects...

A Watsonville man was arrested Thursday after he allegedly set up a meeting for a sexual encounter with a minor.

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police are investigating a fatal shooting in the Pajaro riverbed. Ashley Keehn, spokeswoman for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, said the victim has been identified as John Michael Peña, 41. Michelle Pulido, spokeswoman for Watsonville Police, said detectives were called to the scene of...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) Board of Directors at its May 21 virtual meeting unanimously approved a contract extension with CEO and General Manager Alex Clifford that will keep him at the head of the transportation agency through May 6,...

A Santa Cruz man was arrested Saturday night after allegedly injuring three pedestrians while driving drunk, California Highway Patrol officer Julieta Trenado said.

SANTA CRUZ—Saying that “people were not willing to be governed anymore,” Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel on Thursday said the county’s daily beach restrictions will be removed starting Friday. Save for water sports, county beaches have been off-limits between 11am-5pm since late April....

A few days ago I rode my bike through downtown Santa Cruz and out by the wharf and the Beach Boardwalk. It was empty. Almost lifeless. Our mostly blue sky was sure a welcome sight Monday. So was the cooler air that drifted in from...