USDA announces increase to CalFresh benefits
WATSONVILLE—Starting on Oct. 1, anyone receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, known in California as CalFresh, will see a slight increase to the amount they receive each month.
The changes to the federal Thrifty Food Plan comes thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture...
George Washington statue relocated
WATSONVILLE—A bust of U.S. President George Washington was removed from Watsonville Plaza on Thursday.
In February Watsonville City Council voted 5-2 to move the statue to the Main Branch of the Watsonville Public Library. The decision stemmed from national social unrest during the uprising...
County health officer reissues indoor face covering mandate
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—With the increase of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the highly contagious Delta variant, the Santa Cruz County Health Officer is issuing a Health Order, effective Aug. 20 at 11:59pm, requiring all individuals to wear a face covering when in indoor...
CZU Lightning Complex Fires hit one-year anniversary
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Monday marked the one year anniversary of the CZU Lightning Complex Fires that raged through 86,509 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, killed one man, burned close to 1,500 buildings and stacked up a tab of $2.4 billion in insured...
Watsonville is in the Heart to host Community Call Out
WATSONVILLE—On Aug. 28, Watsonville is in the Heart will host a Community Call Out event.
Join organizers to share family artifacts, documents, vintage photographs and oral stories from the Manong Generation of the Pajaro Valley, to be preserved in the digital archive and a 2022...
VFW hall saved from closure
WATSONVILLE—Veterans of Foreign Wars Freedom Post 1716, which was facing closure this month after the organization could not elect leadership, was given a last-minute reprieve Wednesday at a make-or-break meeting.
The VFW, which was launched in 1929 to serve the local population of World War...
Cabrillo Gallery’s faculty and staff exhibit returns in virtual format
This week, faculty and staff from Cabrillo College’s visual arts department will get their chance to shine with the opening of the school’s first art exhibit of the year.
“Adaptations: Cabrillo College Art, Photography & Art History Faculty & Staff Exhibition” will open virtually Monday...
Attempted murder suspect arrested
WATSONVILLE — A 47-year-old man was arrested today for his involvement in an attempted murder on Riverside Road in Watsonville in June.
At 1pm Wednesday Edgar Ayala was arrested on the 2700 block of Freedom Boulevard by Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputies, with the aid of...
Alleged stolen truck recovered
WATSONVILLE—The California Highway Patrol was joined by Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputies and Watsonville Police in recovering a reported stolen SUV on Holohan Road in Watsonville Monday evening.
The Chevy Suburban, with a trailer attached, was reportedly stolen over the weekend in Watsonville. Police...
13th annual Fire Velo ride rolls through Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—A dozen bicyclists on the 13th annual Fire Velo bike ride rolled into Watsonville Monday afternoon for the first night of their week-long journey to Los Angeles.
“We headed out of San Francisco yesterday,” said Julian Villavicengio, an EMT/firefighter with San Francisco Fire Department. “The...
Photo story: Minor injuries in rollover crash
A Watsonville man suffered minor injuries Monday when he lost control of his Toyota Tundra pickup and rolled upside down on a hillside on...