Grand Jury reports call for jail oversight, praise PVUSD’s covid response
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury has released the results of its eight latest investigations, which typically delve into the inner workings of county and city governmental operations.
While the subjects of the investigations are required to submit responses, they do not...
Watsonville sets new net-negative carbon emissions goal: 2030
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on July 6 approved a resolution to move up its goal of reaching net-negative carbon emissions from 2045 to 2030.
To reach net-negative emissions, an entity must reduce its carbon footprint to less than neutral, so that it is removing more...
Town Hall gathers opinions for PVUSD’s federal funds
WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) on July 14 held two virtual town halls, one in English and one in Spanish, to receive input from parents and the public regarding the use of $52.7 million from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER)...
Watsonville artist selected for Strawberry Festival, Rail Trail designs
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Strawberry Festival will return on Aug. 8, a year after the pandemic forced the cancelation of the event in 2020. With it comes all the usual excitement—strawberry treats, live entertainment, vendors and more—as well as the selection of this year’s official poster...
PVUSD allocates federal money for maintenance issues
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a plan to use a package of federal funds to repair roofs on buildings district-wide, in addition to other maintenance issues.
The district will also use part of its $52.76 million in Elementary...
Photo: Big rig crash closes Hwy 129
A Caltrans worker helps clean up after a big rig smashed into a guardrail Monday on Highway 129 in Aromas. California Highway Patrol officer Fred Smith said the rig, carrying food goods, was traveling east on Hwy 129 around 1:15pm when he veered to...
Watsonville’s policing committee releases report, readies recommendations
WATSONVILLE—After more than 30 meetings over the past eight months, the Watsonville Ad Hoc Committee on Policing and Social Equity on Aug. 4 released its final report to the public before its final meeting on Aug. 21.
For Watsonville City Councilman Francisco “Paco” Estrada a...
Vaccine clinics open to local students | News Briefs
The Santa Cruz County Office of Education has partnered with the Santa Cruz Public Health Department to host several student Covid-19 vaccination clinics for local students.
The clinics got underway Monday at Sequoia High School in Watsonville and Branciforte Middle School in Santa Cruz. Two...
County Fair readies for return with minor changes
WATSONVILLE—Teams of volunteers are working to set the stage for the Santa Cruz County Fair, which returns from a one-year hiatus later this month.
From flower plantings to applying fresh coats of paint, volunteers and staff are readying the fairgrounds for a full schedule of...
District’s SRO discussion set for Sept. 15
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will consider restoring its School Resource Officer (SRO) program, just over one year after they canceled it.
The trustees voted unanimously on Wednesday to discuss the issue during an emergency meeting on Sept. 15.
The meeting will...
One dead after van plunges off Santa Cruz Wharf
A Scotts Valley man died Sunday morning after his minivan plunged into the ocean from the Santa Cruz Wharf.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office...

















