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Watsonville
October 1, 2025

Community in focus: Art frames pop up throughout Watsonville, county

watsonville art
Six decorated wooden frames were installed around Watsonville Saturday in the city’s grand opening of “Outside the Frame,” an effort from the county’s four mayors, County Parks Friends and Santa Cruz County Parks. Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra led a group of three dozen people...

California set to extend eviction protections

california evictions
California renters teetering on the edge of homelessness may now be able to breathe a small sigh of relief as lawmakers move forward a last-minute deal extending eviction protections through Sept. 30. “Even though our state has reopened, hundreds of thousands of Californians are grappling...

Three cars damaged in suspected hit-and-run crash

watsonville crash
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police are investigating a suspected hit-and-run crash on East Beach Street in front of Watsonville High School early Sunday morning. WPD Cpl. Collin Travers said a 2019 Honda Accord was traveling eastbound on East Beach Street at 5:45am. For unknown reasons the driver of...

Two men shot in reportedly unrelated incidents near Watsonville

Watsonville shooting
WATSONVILLE—Two men were shot five hours apart in reportedly unrelated incidents on the outskirts of Watsonville on June 23, and multiple suspects remain at large. Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Ashley Keehn on June 24 said deputies are searching for 47-year-old Edgar Ayala, the...

Former WPD officer sworn in as San Benito Sheriff

Eric Taylor
SAN BENITO COUNTY—A Watsonville native was sworn in as the 16th sheriff for San Benito County Friday under mild, sunny conditions in the front courtyard of the Veterans Memorial Building. Eric Taylor, a 1992 Watsonville High School graduate, accepted the position in the presence of...

Watsonville man falls to death at New Brighton State Beach

Edward Murillo-Jimenez
NEW BRIGHTON STATE BEACH—A Watsonville man died Thursday morning after he reportedly fell off of a towering cliff at New Brighton State Beach. Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said Edward Murillo-Jimenez, 32, was pronounced dead at the base of the cliff. A hiker...

Watsonville High class of ‘53 plans 68th reunion

The Watsonville High School graduating class of 1953 will have its 68-year reunion on Aug. 19 at the Best Western Inn in Aptos, organizers announced. The theme is “One for the Road.” Organizers ask attendees to bring photos, memorabilia and stories. Local historian Mas Hashimoto...

Watsonville Nature Center to host grand reopening Saturday

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Nature Center is opening for visitors this weekend for the first time since the pandemic. A bilingual open house will be held Saturday from 3-5pm, with a workshop on emergency wildfire preparedness. Numerous organizations and agencies will be on hand for the event,...

Photo: Fire burns near Pacific Firewood & Lumber

Towering flames reach into the sky at Pacific Firewood & Lumber, 2536 Freedom Blvd., Friday as a huge pile of timber burns. Fire officials said the blaze was triggered by spontaneous combustion sometime during the night. Firefighters around 8:30am said they would be on...

Biden and senators reach broad infrastructure deal

WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of centrist senators reached a deal on Thursday for $1.2 trillion in investments to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, a victory for the White House but only the first lurch in what promises to be an arduous attempt...
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Stagecraft: PV High celebrates new theater

After years of holding performances in their school’s wrestling room and in various spaces around campus, students at Pajaro Valley High School now have...