News

WATSONVILLE—During the next school year, every student in Pajaro Valley Unified School District can get a free breakfast and lunch, nutrition director Linda Liu said. Students and their families will not be required to fill out applications for free and reduced lunches to participate, she...

WATSONVILLE—A new outdoor mural is taking shape thanks to three local artists and the backing of a business owner at the heavily traveled intersection of East Lake Avenue and Brennan Street. Jessica Carrasco, Mateo Gonzalez (aka Primo) and Paul De Worken started work on the...

HOLLISTER—Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Daniel Dodge, Jr. last month was cited and released after being arrested on suspicion of stealing less than $300 worth of product from his employer in Hollister. Hollister Police Department Chief of Police Carlos Reynoso said officers were called...

On July 7, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an expansion of June’s drought emergency proclamation, adding an additional nine counties—including Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Clara. The water emergency continues to worsen, and right when wildfires are raging through tens of thousands of acres around the...

Summer is in full swing, and with Covid-19 restrictions loosening more every day, people are once again heading outside for some warm, seasonal fun. But all outdoor activities come with built-in risk. Too much exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause everything from...

The city of Watsonville will celebrate the Fourth of July with the Spirit of Watsonville Neighborhood Parade, a Mayor’s Bike Ride and a Red, White and Blue Concert, organizers announced Tuesday. In the Spirit of Watsonville Neighborhood Parade, residents and businesses between July 1-4 will...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on May 11 voted unanimously to delay a 25-cent fee for disposable cups at businesses in the unincorporated parts of the county until January 2022. County officials crafted the ordinance to reduce the amount of disposable...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police have arrested five gang members believed to be responsible for two separate violent attacks that left several people injured, WPD spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said. The first attack occurred on March 26 outside of a liquor store on the 1100 block of Freedom Boulevard....

WATSONVILLE—Aggressive base running and an explosive five-run fifth inning helped lead the Monte Vista Christian baseball team to victory against inner-city rival Watsonville High on Saturday. Armando Vasquez-Green batted 2-for-2 and notched two RBIs in an 8-2 win at home against the Wildcatz in Santa...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council will hold a study session on food trucks near the end of its Tuesday evening virtual meeting. The item was included in the meeting’s agenda released Thursday evening, but there was no staff report attached to it, causing confusion and worry...