News

The city of Watsonville has selected Brian Shab as its next police chief, city officials announced Tuesday. Shab, who has more than 27 years of public safety experience, is currently an assistant chief with the San Jose Police Department, where he oversees departmentwide operations serving...

Observations around the Pajaro Valley and beyond.

WATSONVILLE—Work is now complete on a pedestrian, bike and traffic safety project on Harkins Slough Road.  The job, which is part of a city-wide project to address transportation safety issues, runs between South Green Valley Road and Ford Street and includes a swath of Walker...

A Santa Cruz County resident and Second Harvest Food Bank client who received $281 per month in CalFresh benefits for more than two years saw those benefits decrease to $40 in April. The woman, who asked not to be identified, says the recent ending of...

APTOS—Cabrillo College is planning to host a series of 90-minute community discussions in September and October as college officials weigh changing the school’s name. The first three sessions are scheduled for Sept. 21, 23 and 30. All three will be conducted via Zoom. Cabrillo wrapped up...

After working as a manager at Freedom Meat Lockers for nearly three decades, William Panis was ready to set off on his own. His new butcher shop—Willie’s Meat Market—is located at 20 Mariposa off Freedom Boulevard.  He offers a wide selection of meat, sausage and bacon,...

Sometimes, armed robbery does not pay off. A pharmacist was working at the CVS store on Rodriguez Street at about 11:40am on Feb. 4 when a man wearing a ski mask demanded Oxycontin. But instead of giving the man what he wanted, the pharmacist told...

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District will return School Resource Officers (SROs) to Watsonville and Aptos high school campuses, and pair them with mental health workers. The district’s Board of Trustees approved the plan after a late-night special meeting with hours of impassioned public testimony inside...