PVUSD will reconsider school officer program after fatal Aptos stabbing
APTOS—The stabbing attack that killed an Aptos High School senior Tuesday occurred nearly one year after the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees ended the district’s School Resource Officer program, which placed law enforcement officers on high school campuses.
The district opted instead...
Aptos High student dies after being stabbed on campus
LIVE OAK—A 17-year-old Aptos High School student died Tuesday after he was stabbed multiple times, and two other students—14 and 17—are facing murder charges for the attack, which occurred on the school’s campus.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart made the announcement during a press...
Career-focused Watsonville school wins national award
WATSONVILLE—Diamond Technology Institute in Watsonville was recently honored for its programming promoting college and career readiness.
The school is the recipient of a Gold Medal for its work with the Career Choices Series curriculum and My10yearPlan.com, created by Academic Innovations, an award-winning educational publisher.
The Career...
Three Watsonville men arrested in connection with Santa Cruz shooting
SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz Police on Sunday arrested three suspected gang members after one of them fired a shot into a residence on Blaine Street.
Gustavo Garcia, 19, and Jose Lopez, 28, were charged with attempted homicide. Both face weapons and gang charges. They were booked...
Police: Teen on probation had stolen handgun at Watsonville football game
WATSONVILLE—An 18-year-old was arrested at the Belgard Kup high school football game by officers with the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team (SCCACT) who say he was carrying a loaded, stolen handgun.
An SCCACT detective saw Adrian Ayala during halftime of the annual game between Watsonville...
City restarts bulky items collection program
WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville has reinvented its Bulky Items Collection Program.
Abandoned years ago, the program now offers Watsonville residents a free chance to unload mattresses, appliances, some furniture, tires, carpeting and more.
Gabe Gordo, Solid Waste Division Manager, said the program is available to residents...
Equestrian competition back in the saddle
WATSONVILLE—The annual Summer Fun in Watsonville Outback Cutting competition is unfolding at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.
Around 280 horses arrived mid-week for the five-day event that drew folks from around California, Arizona, Colorado and Texas.
Cutting is a western-style equestrian competition where a horse and...
Aptos dentist office burglarized
APTOS—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two suspects in a late-night burglary of an Aptos dentist’s office on Aug. 21.
Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said surveillance video captured two men between the ages of 18-30 burglarizing the office. They made off...
Lake Tahoe Suffocates With Smoke
TAHOE CITY, Calif.—When the pandemic swept through California last year, Lake Tahoe, the azure gem of the Sierra Nevada, swarmed with city dwellers fleeing to the purity of its alpine air.
Now the stampede has reversed. With a fast-expanding wildfire roaring just one ridge away...
Watsonville City Council approves development as possible litigation looms
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council approved a proposed 21-condo development across the street from the Watsonville Municipal Airport that could face litigation from the Watsonville Pilots Association (WPA).
The project would redevelop a steel fabrication business at 547 Airport Blvd. that has stood for at least...
Female Athlete of the Year: Aptos’ Izzy Graff brought excellence to...
Aptos graduate Izzy Graff was on the verge of joining the cross country team going into her junior year in 2023 so she could...