New DNA lab will save money, expedite cases
For years, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office’s sciences lab has been analyzing crime scene evidence: data from cell phones and computers, tire tread marks and fingerprints, just to name a few.
But analyzing DNA evidence—a field that takes not only a science background and...
Charter school to make final appeal
A charter school organization that has been rejected twice by Santa Cruz County education officials in its efforts to establish a school in Watsonville will make a final attempt Wednesday when it appeals to the California Department of Education in Sacramento.
Keeping pets safe on Fourth of July
WATSONVILLE—After months of being shuttered during the countywide response to Covid-19, Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s (SCCAS) Watsonville location has opened once again.
The reopening came a few days before the Fourth of July, a holiday known to cause lost pets and disrupted wildlife from...
Massive bike ride brings community together
Around 400 bicyclists filled Capitola and Santa Cruz Saturday as part of a nationwide cycling event to bring bicyclists together to show off their skills and simply bring the community together.
Person shot in Santa Cruz
SANTA CRUZ—A person was shot while riding in a car just before 2pm in Santa Cruz at the heavily traveled intersection of Ocean Street and San Lorenzo Boulevard.
As Santa Cruz Police raced to the scene they learned the victim had self-transported to Dominican Hospital...
Thousands show to Watsonville Strawberry Festival’s return
WATSONVILLE—A year after it was canceled because of the pandemic, the Watsonville Strawberry Festival drew more than 5,000 people to downtown Sunday to eat, shop, dance and celebrate the Pajaro Valley’s top crop and the continued slow return to normalcy.
Watsonville Parks and Community Services...
Kittens rescued from landfill
A local nonprofit announced that it had saved 37 kittens across Santa Cruz County last week, including three that were found abandoned at the Buena Vista Landfill.
County refines transition plan for new public defender office
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to transition cases from the current public defender’s office to the newly minted Office of the Public Defender, which is slated to officially launch on July 1.
The new office...
Holiday tree arrives in Watsonville
Plaza decoration begins; tree lighting set for Nov. 24
WATSONVILLE—Downtown Watsonville was bustling with activity Tuesday morning as a 30-foot Blue Spruce arrived, carefully wrapped and attached to the back of a large tow truck.
Workers from Auto Care Towing meticulously attached ropes and pulleys to...
PVUSD Trustees to revisit teacher layoff vote
A little more than one week after voting to eliminate roughly 80 teacher positions, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will...
