News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Thousands took to the streets in Watsonville and Santa Cruz over the weekend in bold protest of the death of George Floyd, an African American man who died in Minneapolis May 25 when a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly...

APTOS—Pajaro Valley Unified School District announced Wednesday it is closing Rio Del Mar Elementary School for two days after a person there tested positive for coronavirus. District officials are not saying what the person’s relationship to the school is. They were last at the school...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—One week after firefighters contained the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, which scorched 86,509 acres and destroyed 1,565 structures in the Santa Cruz Mountains, county officials had a dire prediction for the coming winter months. Heavy rainfall unable to soak into the fire-damaged soil...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council at its Feb. 23 meeting will see plans for two large housing developments that combined will bring 103 new apartments. The Residence on Main Street and an affordable apartment complex on Freedom Boulevard from nonprofit developer Eden Housing will be on...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday got a first look at its budget for the coming school year, which has taken a severe hit both by declining enrollment and the loss of revenue from the Covid-19 crisis. PVUSD Chief Business...

Roughly $4.1 million in grants were awarded to health care centers across the Central Coast.  The grants were announced on Sept. 29 by Rep. Jimmy Panetta. The money will support healthcare for underserved communities, and funds will be funneled primarily toward efforts to expand Covid-19...

Do you have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to [email protected] or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as...

A 2015 Toyota Prius sits on its roof in Browns Creek on the 800 block of Browns Valley Road near Corralitos on the afternoon of Dec. 30.  California Highway Patrol spokesman Israel Murillo said the driver suffered minor injuries and the passenger uninjured in...

Jessica Carrasco is challenging incumbent Adam Scow for the Trustee Area 6 seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees. in the Nov. 5 election. She says her experience teaching, working with a local nonprofit and her time on the Watsonville Parks...

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville police officer who began his career with the agency as a cadet three decades ago has become the department’s newest police chief. Jorge Zamora was chosen after an extensive national search. “Through the process, Jorge demonstrated his in-depth knowledge and understanding of our community...