News

WATSONVILLE—Work began over the weekend on a major restoration of a long-standing outdoor mural at the La Manzana center. Muralist Guillermo “Yermo” Aranda, who is the creative drive behind scores of murals around Santa Cruz County, Salinas and San Diego, said it was time to...

Before the CZU Lightning Complex fires decimated Big Basin Redwoods State Park, visitors who hiked the trails and camped beneath the redwoods saw different things: towering trees; various and beautiful flora and fauna; abundant wildlife, babbling brooks and starry skies.  But when Traci Bliss went...

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man was arrested late Tuesday night after he was caught burglarizing a business on Airport Boulevard. Gabriel Soto-Gonzalez, 41, was charged with burglary, vehicle theft and providing false ID to police. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $25,000...

SACRAMENTO—New stay-at-home orders issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday will be based on intensive care unit capacity in five regions in California. Newsom said that much of the state will likely be under the stay-at-home orders within the next few days if ICU capacity...

A fire late Wednesday morning in Watsonville destroyed two vehicles in the area of Brennan Street and Freedom Boulevard. Firefighters reported no injuries. The blaze erupted at about 10:15am in a 2024 Tesla and a Ford F150 van that were parked next to each other. Witnesses...

Tarmo Hannula: Watsonville Police officer Javier Ayala introduced his K9, Axel, to the kindergarten class of Mara Valadez at Freedom Elementary School Monday as part of the annual Read Across America Program. Many people in the U.S., including students, parents and teachers, take part...

WATSONVILLE—A total of 27 residents and six staff members of Watsonville Post Acute Center have tested positive for Covid-19 since July 19, and the facility has enacted several safety and infection protocols to try to combat the virus’ spread. The most recent cases—two patients—were announced...

Tim Silva has a great love affair with pizza. He knows what it takes to build a good pie, especially having worked with Pizza My Heart for the past 36 years. Silva, who is still part owner of the popular local pizza chain, recently ventured off...

Open Streets Watsonville returns on Sunday, on Brennan/Union Street between Callaghan Park and the City Plaza from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WATSONVILLE—A man was injured Friday when the roof of a two-story house partially collapsed, trapping him under the rubble until rescue workers arrived. The man was flown by air ambulance to an out of county trauma center. The collapse occurred at an aging, dilapidated house on...