News

WATSONVILLE—Two Watsonville area charter schools received funds through the federal Payroll Protection Program (PPP), the $660 billion initiative created to use taxpayer dollars to help keep small business and nonprofit organizations afloat. Watsonville Prep School, which received more than $1.7 million, and Ceiba College Preparatory...

A woman wanders through the crowd on stilts Saturday at the second annual Salinas Festa Italia, a one-day family street festival that features the food, live music and culture of Italy. “The importance of the festival has been dedicated to the importance of family...

APTOS—As Santa Cruz County’s community college begins efforts to possibly rebrand itself with a new name—and reject the name of Spanish Explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo—two drastically different pictures of the man at the center of the debate have emerged. Cabrillo College began to explore a...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The economic restrictions imposed on various Santa Cruz County businesses are not expected to be loosened this week, according to Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency spokeswoman Corinne Hyland. That’s despite the fact that the county will have spent its 14th day off...

SAN JOSE—A 29-year-old Aptos man was shot and killed Saturday by police on Highway 85 during a vehicle stop, San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia said Wednesday. San Jose Police say that the man, who has not been named, was the passenger during the stop...

Paul Garcia, 30, and Allison Nault, 22, face numerous drug and weapon-related charges.

By TARA FATEMI WALKER SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Second Harvest Food Bank (SHFB) and its network of more than 70 partner agencies, including nonprofits such as food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, work hard to combat food insecurity.  But because of new requirements mandated by Senate Bill 1383,...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a sweeping ban on the sale of various tobacco products. Starting in late November, the sale of flavored tobacco, e-cigarettes and vapes will be outlawed, and pharmacies operating in city limits will no longer be able to...

The annual Obon Festival will take place July 21 at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple. Open to the public, the event will include entertainment, a vendor’s market, childrens’ games and an array of traditional foods. The festival culminates in a dance, known as Bon-Odori, which participants practice...

The City of Watsonville has sent out a call to local artists to help create a mural for the new nature center coming to Ramsay Park.  As part of the Ramsay Park Renaissance Project, community members are invited to provide input on the mural design,...