News

Every day, roughly 100,000 vehicles travel along Highway 1 through Santa Cruz County, a staggering number that is evidenced by daily rush-hour backups that can last for hours. That’s to say nothing of the often packed surface roads. That contributes to air pollution and global warming,...

The Elkhorn Slough Foundation (ESF) Board of Directors announced Tuesday the hiring of Taylor Honrath as its next Executive Director.  “We are pleased to welcome Taylor to this new role,” said Board President Susan Matcham. “He has been an outstanding Deputy Director, and we’re confident that...

MEDICAL EMERGENCY Watsonville firefighters deal with a solo-vehicle rollover on Thursday, where an SUV barrel-rolled down a hillside on Main Street. Watsonville City spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said a man driving a Mazda SUV appears to have had a medical  emergency while driving past the...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday kicked off its annual budget hearings, a four-day marathon in which the board approves the county’s budget priorities for the coming fiscal year. During the hearings, each of the county’s departments present their individual...

WATSONVILLE—Digital NEST Founder and Executive Director Jacob Martinez on Wednesday was named a 2020 recipient of the prestigious James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award.  Since 1937, the James Irvine Foundation has provided more than $1.87 billion in grants to nonprofit organizations in California. James Irvine, a...

Pajaro Valley Arts is preparing for its first show in 2026, an annual members’ exhibit titled “Welcome Home.”  Curated by first-time curator Jim Turner, the exhibit will feature 150 artists and will run from Jan. 13-Feb. 21 in the historic Porter Building in downtown Watsonville.  “We...

Chris Ishikawa took over as owner at Miyuki Japanese Restaurant in 2016 after starting off as a busboy and a server, before making his way behind the sushi bar where he and the kitchen staff continue to make what most consider the best sushi...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police arrested three people over a 10-day period on suspicion of committing sex crimes against children. Daniel Alanis, 39, was arrested Dec. 2 in Salinas and charged with committing lewd and lascivious acts against a child under 14. He was booked into Santa Cruz...

Watsonville Police Sgt. Henry Robles is shown with Lynn Oliver-Gonzalez, vice chair of the Watsonville Police Assistance Fund, Tony and Becky Campos, and Officer Javier Ayala with his K-9, Axel, Tuesday at the Watsonville Police Department.

PRUNEDALE—The California Highway Patrol is continuing an investigation into a series of projectiles that have struck 48 vehicles on Highways 101, 152 and 156 since February.   Public Information Officer Jessica Madueño said the attacks, which have injured five people, are increasing in frequency and...