News

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra says he clearly remembers the light displays that once lined downtown every holiday season.  As a kid, Dutra would see the sparkling candy canes, snowflakes and more that adorned the street lights, poles and storefronts as he and his family walked...

WATSONVILLE—A man was arrested on Oct. 9 on suspicion of multiple counts of assault, including several counts against a peace officer. Watsonville Police Department Sgt. Mike Ridgway said a group of people experiencing homelessness aided police in tracking down Oscar Partido, 26, around 8am. He...

WATSONVILLE—City of Watsonville staff at Tuesday’s meeting will ask the Watsonville City Council to declare the vacant Kmart property a public nuisance, citing “illegal camping, lack of sanitation, inoperable or abandoned vehicles, excessive noise,” and a “violation of the City’s zoning laws.” If the City...

Santa Cruz County Public Health this week announced three additional deaths related to Covid-19. The three victims—a woman in her mid-60s who died on Sept. 3, another woman in her early 70s who died on Sept. 24 and a man in his early 90s who...

ROYAL OAKS—Congressman Jimmy Panetta was on the Central Coast Thursday, touting two pandemic assistance programs he helped pass that will benefit agriculture workers and the industries that employ them. The Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program will provide $650 million in grants to food...

WATSONVILLE—A crew from Watsonville Public Works is continuing a city-wide project to enhance the safety of crosswalks. The multiphase job has already completed numerous “high visibility” crosswalks at a number of downtown intersections on Rodriguez, Union and Brennan streets. Assistant Director of Public Works Maria...

Nancy Russell’s “art house” in Moss Landing stands a chance of being one of the most outlandish stops on the upcoming 29th Annual Monterey County Artists Studio Tour.  “I’m looking forward to the tour this year,” Russell said at the front door of her home,...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Cabrillo College has been awarded a five-year, $5 Million U.S. Department of Education Title III grant, meant for STEM programs at federally-designated Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI). To receive the HSI designation, at least a quarter of a college’s student body must be Hispanic....

WATSONVILLE—National Night Out unfolded Tuesday night in a wealth of Watsonville neighborhoods as an effort to bring the community closer to its law enforcement officials. With a format similar to a block party, Watsonville Police and Fire, Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputies and city officials...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday amended the county’s rules governing accessory dwelling units (ADU), which county officials say were created to streamline the process for building them.  Under the new rules, old ADUs can be demolished and rebuilt as...