Police: Man, woman found dead in apparent murder-suicide
CAPITOLA—A man and a woman died in what police believe to be a murder-suicide in Capitola and Aptos.
The Capitola Police Department on Monday said that, through preliminary evidence, investigators linked the killing of 65-year-old Alice Jane Daugherty on the 4300 block of Diamond Street...
Watsonville’s Mayor For The Day contest returns
WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District high school and middle school students are encouraged to submit essays for the Mayor For The Day contest, which will give one student the chance to spend the day with Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra.
In 2019, Yocelyn Gonzalez, then a...
Watsonville man dies in Highway 25 crash
A Watsonville man died and five other people were injured Saturday night in a multi-vehicle crash just north of Hollister, according to the California Highway Patrol.
About 7pm, a 27-year-old man from Tres Pinos, driving a Mazda 3 sedan, attempted a U-turn from the northbound...
Watsonville Police Department welcomes three new officers
WATSONVILLE—Three new officers began their new careers with Watsonville Police Department on Aug. 16, and are now in the early stages of WPD’s 6-month field training program.
Francisco Felix, Jasmine Tirado and Johnny Miranda are now riding along with experienced officers as they learn their...
Local author to release first prose and poetry collection
Author Olga Rosales Salinas remembers clearly the folklore and myths she heard growing up in Watsonville.
The Mexican legends of La Llorona and El Cucuy in particular stuck with her; stories themed around fear and often used to teach difficult lessons.
“I’ve often thought about what...
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore opens
WATSONVILLE — Habitat for Humanity of Monterey Bay threw open its doors at a grand opening ceremony Thursday for the relocation of their ReStore at 555 Main St. in Watsonville.
The festive event drew community members, business people, Restore staff and area dignitaries, including Watsonville Mayor...
Food service industry faces unprecedented labor shortage
Two weeks ago, Amelia Loftus, owner of Hidden Fortress Coffee Roasting, was on the brink of closing her cafe in Watsonville just shy of its five-year anniversary.
The shop, located at the end of a sleepy business complex on Hangar Way, had been struggling to...
USDA announces increase to CalFresh benefits
WATSONVILLE—Starting on Oct. 1, anyone receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, known in California as CalFresh, will see a slight increase to the amount they receive each month.
The changes to the federal Thrifty Food Plan comes thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture...
George Washington statue relocated
WATSONVILLE—A bust of U.S. President George Washington was removed from Watsonville Plaza on Thursday.
In February Watsonville City Council voted 5-2 to move the statue to the Main Branch of the Watsonville Public Library. The decision stemmed from national social unrest during the uprising...
County health officer reissues indoor face covering mandate
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—With the increase of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the highly contagious Delta variant, the Santa Cruz County Health Officer is issuing a Health Order, effective Aug. 20 at 11:59pm, requiring all individuals to wear a face covering when in indoor...
Public defenders plan April 23 protest over caseloads, funding gaps
Public defenders in Santa Cruz County will join colleagues across California and the nation April 23 in a coordinated protest highlighting what they describe...
