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Watsonville
January 24, 2026

Fat Boy Burgers opens 

Fat Boy Burgers and Grill recently opened its doors at 1467 Freedom Blvd. and was swarmed with hundreds of customers looking to dine on its tasty offerings, which include burgers, crinkle-cut fries and milkshakes.

Car shatters utility pole on Highway 1

Emergency officials prepare to take a man to the emergency room Monday after his Toyota Camry drifted off of Highway 1 south of Watsonville at Jensen Road.

Two arrested in jailhouse murder

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested two men suspected of killing a fellow inmate in a cell at Santa Cruz Main Jail designated for active gang members. Mario Lozano, 33, of Santa Cruz and Jason Cortez, 25, of Watsonville, face murder charges for...

Aptos High student dies after being stabbed on campus

Aptos High stabbing
LIVE OAK—A 17-year-old Aptos High School student died Tuesday after he was stabbed multiple times, and two other students—14 and 17—are facing murder charges for the attack, which occurred on the school’s campus. Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart made the announcement during a press...

Alleged shooter seeks new doctor

The man who allegedly participated in a gang-related shooting nearly three years ago that killed a man and a 4-year-old girl appeared briefly in court Tuesday, where he asked a judge to give him more time to find a neuropsychologist.

Local coaches react to school district’s rules for summer conditioning

PV football training
WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District announced last week that student-athletes will be allowed to participate in athletic conditioning and workouts starting Monday. Pajaro Valley High School athletic director Joe Manfre said the decision will give coaches a chance to see their students once again and...

PVUSD Wellness Center reimagines student services

PVUSD wellness center
WATSONVILLE—As thousands of students throughout Pajaro Valley Unified School District bid farewell to their summer and prepare for a new year, educators and school employees are readying classrooms, sharpening pencils and honing their lesson plans. Such back-to-school preparations have always been a normal part of...

Watsonville City Councilman mocks community member during meeting

Lowell hurst Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville City Councilman Lowell Hurst is being criticized for taunting a community member during a Sept. 8 virtual meeting. Hurst in the video recording of the meeting could be seen patting himself on the back, mocking comments made by a Watsonville resident during public comment....

Hecker Pass pursuit leads to DUI arrest

california highway patrol arrest hecker pass highway watsonville road
A 30-year-old Lemoore man was arrested Oct. 6 after he reportedly tried to evade police. California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said CHP officers observed a BMW M4 fail to stop at a stop sign near East Lake Avenue at Casserly Road on the evening...

Grant to help move homeless from Pajaro River encampments

homeless encampment pajaro river levee
Homeless services advocates from Monterey and Santa Cruz counties are considering placing a small community of modular tiny homes in a church parking lot in Watsonville, aimed at reducing the number of people camped out along the Pajaro River. The project comes thanks to an...
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Letters to the Editor, Jan. 23–29

Passenger rail price estimates too high One can never convince  me that restoring the Santa Cruz Branch rail line for passenger rail would cost an...

Alliances in turmoil

Boys To Men