Local incumbents trending toward reelection
As the nation awaits the final results of the much-anticipated presidential race, other outcomes at the national and state level have been all but decided.
According to results tallied Thursday, 20th District Congressman Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat, had a massive lead over challenger Jeff Gorman,...
New leaders take reins on Santa Cruz County education boards
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Felipe Hernandez, who has served as a member of the Watsonville City Council since 2012, including a stint as mayor, has won the race for Cabrillo College Governing Board Trustee Area 5 against incumbent Leticia Mendoza.
As numbers rolled in on election night,...
Supervisors approve changes to Public Defender office
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a plan to move the county’s public defender services from a private law firm to one run by the County.
The plan has garnered support from the current public defenders, as well as...
Second Harvest’s annual Holiday Food Drive goes virtual
WATSONVILLE—Second Harvest Food Bank volunteer Paul Garcia knows the importance of giving back to his community.
“I was a heroin addict for many years… I tore this town up,” he said. “So now I’m giving back.”
Garcia has been a volunteer for Second Harvest for 11...
Digital NEST expanding to Gilroy
WATSONVILLE—The Digital NEST during its first six years has seen impressive and steady growth in the number of young people that it serves and in the impact on the communities in which it is embedded.
Now, the nonprofit youth workforce development center headquartered in Watsonville...
7-Eleven owners donate 150 Thanksgiving turkeys to community
WATSONVILLE—For 12 years, Sherry Dang and Kirk di Cicco, husband-and-wife owners of five local franchised 7-Eleven stores, have made it a point to give back to their community during Thanksgiving. And the Covid-19 pandemic was not going to stop them from continuing that tradition...
Two arrested in connection with suspected Las Lomas murder
MONTEREY COUNTY—Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies on Saturday arrested two brothers at a residence in the unincorporated area of Las Lomas after a woman was found dead.
Miguel Casillas-Cervantes, 27, was booked into Monterey County Jail for child endangerment, and manslaughter in lieu of $55,000 bail,...
Gov. Newsom announces assistance for Covid-impacted businesses
SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced that the state will provide temporary tax relief for eligible businesses that have been impacted by Covid-19 restrictions.
Under the plan, taxpayers filing less than $1 million in sales tax receive an automatic three-month income tax extension. It also...
Newsom: new stay-at-home order likely to hit Central Coast
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...
Local nurses demand ‘safe’ patient ratios
WATSONVILLE—A group of about 30 nurses at Watsonville Community Hospital held a demonstration Wednesday asking that management keep nurse-to-patient ratios at their present level.
The demonstration came five days after the California Department of Public Health sent a memo to the state’s general acute care...
St. Francis, Watsonville to meet for PCAL season opener | High...
St. Francis is hosting Watsonville this weekend for the anticipated start of Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division-North play.
The crosstown rivals will square off...