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Watsonville
January 21, 2026

Freedom Fire forces evacuations just north of Watsonville

Santa Cruz county winds fires
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Heavy winds pummeled the Central Coast Monday night and into Tuesday, causing numerous power outages, scores of power lines to crash to the ground and several wildland fires, including a large one just north of Watsonville. Dubbed the Freedom Fire by Cal Fire’s...

Air quality advisory issued for Monterey Bay

The Monterey Bay Air Resources District is asking residents to avoid adding more pollution to the air during a time when smoke from the massive wildfires currently burning in Northern California is entering the region.

Watsonville’s slough trail system a county gem

Just beyond the veneer of traffic din and mundane get-your-coffee-and-go workaday world lies a vast network of trails, which snake through Watsonville’s slough system. Discovering them takes only a brief walk from about two-dozen entrances scattered throughout the city. But until I took a half-day,...

PVUSD delays decision on school opening plan

PVUSD Covid-19 plan
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously voted to delay a decision on how to resume classes in August, to give district officials time to investigate all of their options. Still undetermined is which risk level the district will use...

Watsonville City Council lobbies state leaders

Most of the Watsonville City Council attended the 2017 Legislative Day in Sacramento last week.

Butane honey oil lab explosion injures woman

AROMAS—A Watsonville man was arrested Monday after an illegal butane honey oil lab at his residence exploded, seriously injuring a woman. Jason Mendez, 22, was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, arson and other drug-related charges. He was not in custody at Monterey County Jail...

Nearly 50 children receive free dental care

Dientes Community Dental Care celebrated Give Kids A Smile Day on Feb. 9 by partnering with six volunteer hygienists from the Monterey Bay Dental Hygienists’ Association to provide 48 uninsured children with free dental care.

Gottschalks building renovation going to Planning Commission

Watsonville prep Gottschalks building
WATSONVILLE—A proposed redevelopment of the vacant Gottschalks building in the heart of downtown will come to the Watsonville Planning Commission during its Oct. 6 meeting. Navigator Schools, the parent organization of local charter school Watsonville Prep, and the Hansen Family Trust are teaming up to...

Children’s art on show

Children's book illustrator Elizabeth Gomez talks about her artwork Thursday during an exhibit reception for Amesti Elementary students as part of the El Pajaro Community Development Corporation and Plaza Vigil annual Art Show.

PV Arts welcomes new executive director

Linda Martin first person to hold position in decades.
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Gun found at Aptos High tied to ‘off-campus incident,’ authorities say

Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s investigators believe a firearm found on the Aptos High School campus this week is likely tied to an incident that...