News

CENTRAL COAST—Though the CZU August Lightning Complex fire is now more than 86% contained in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the sky and weather do not reflect that progress. An orange-brown layer of smoke blanketed the sky Wednesday and by 3pm it was dark. Similar conditions...

Retired Watsonville Police Officer Kraig Kliewer, who retired in July following a 29-year career, died Tuesday. “It is with a heavy heart that we inform you about the passing of retired Watsonville Police Officer Kraig Kliewer,” said Michelle Pulido, spokeswoman for WPD. “He passed away...

In the late 1800s, Claus Spreckels ran a mill that processed locally grown sugar beets, a thriving industry that is generally credited with seeing Santa Cruz County through troubled economic times. But when Spreckels tried to underpay the Japanese community—cutting their wages in half—they walked,...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Watsonville Public Library, along with Hospice Santa Cruz County (HSCC), will be hosting a virtual book discussion on Zoom on Nov. 5 at 5:30pm. The event will be centered around author Katy Butler’s “The Art of Dying Well,” a nonfiction book published...

Roughly 50 people gathered in the cafeteria at Landmark Elementary School Monday night for a forum featuring four candidates running for seats on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees for the Nov. 5 election. Jessica Carrasco, who is running against incumbent Adam...

Spring began today and brief shower activity along with a dusting of snow in the mountains helped paint the picture. Tonight there is a 20 percent chance of showers before 8 p.m., the National Weather Service said. On Friday there is a 20 percent...

Watsonville can begin clearing a large homeless encampment on Airport Boulevard after the City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution to allow city officials to “abate the public nuisance.” The council declared the parcel a public nuisance on Nov. 18.  The 2.75-acre wooded property lies...

After the outbreak of COVID-19 prompted shelter-in-place orders last week, scores of performing arts venues and museums across Santa Cruz County have closed.  Staff and artists are now out of work, and locally-owned venues are currently figuring out their next step. Cabrillo College Box Office Specialist...

Eager students, teachers, and faculty gathered with community volunteers in the library at Ann Soldo Elementary School Friday afternoon to share in the joy of reading.

Organizers at the Santa Cruz County Fair are asking the public for ideas for a theme for the 2026 County Fair. Anyone who has a “phrase that pops” or a “rhyme that shines” is invited to submit it. “Imagine your words splashed across every poster and...