REI to open new store in Santa Cruz
SANTA CRUZ—REI, an outdoor retail business with 168 stores in 39 states, plans to open a location in Santa Cruz, the company announced on Feb. 18.
The 22,622-square-foot store will be located at 1660 Commercial Way, the giant warehouse that formerly held Toys “R” Us....
State Supreme Court validates juvenile justice law
SANTA CRUZ—The California Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a 2018 law prohibiting anyone 14 or 15 years old from being tried as adults is constitutional.
The ruling on Senate Bill 1391 means that Adrian “AJ” Gonzalez, who is accused of kidnapping, torturing, raping and...
Cross Country: Back on track
A sense of normalcy returned to Santa Cruz County last week as the local high schools kicked off the cross country season. Watsonville High School squared off against Harbor High School on Feb. 18 in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League competition, which was the...
Sheriff’s Office seeks suspect in recent Live Oak shooting
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s detectives on Wednesday identified Patrick Diaz, 29, as a suspect in a Jan. 13 shooting that occurred on the 2500 block of Soquel Drive in Live Oak.
Daniel Anthony Tostado, 19, of Watsonville, was arrested on Feb. 16 in...
PV Water Board adopts Cost of Service Rate Study
WATSONVILLE—On Feb. 17 the Board of Directors of the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) unanimously adopted the 2021 Cost of Service Rate Study and Resolution 2021-05.
The move adopts procedures for public hearing, notice and protest concerning proposed revisions to charges for augmentation...
Man killed in recent shooting at Pajaro levee identified
WATSONVILLE—The man who died Feb. 22 after being shot nine days earlier on the Pajaro River levee has been identified as Daniel Godinez, 46, a homeless man from Watsonville, Santa Cruz Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said Wednesday.
Godinez was shot at least twice on Feb....
Latino Role Models conference goes virtual Saturday
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The annual Latino Role Models conference will return for its 11th year—in a virtual format—Saturday from 9:30am-1pm.
The free event was founded and is still organized by Senderos, a nonprofit that aims to create successful pathways for the Latinx community of Santa Cruz...
City Council approves 103 new apartments, more than half ‘affordable’
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council approved two housing developments at its Tuesday night meeting, paving the way for 103 new apartments on two of the city’s major arterial roads.
Both projects nearly received unanimous approvals. Bill and Neva Hansen’s 50-unit, market-rate apartment complex on Main Street,...
County supervisors approve rental assistance program
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to join a state-run rent relief program, which makes more than $16 million in federal funds available to local renters unable to pay their rent and utilities due to...
Man recently shot near Pajaro levee dies, police say
WATSONVILLE—A man who was shot Feb. 13 on the Pajaro River levee at the end of Walker Street has died from his injuries, Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said.
The case is now being investigated as a homicide, she said.
According to Pulido, officers responded...
PV’s Lara-Alvarez named Santa Lucia’s top player | All-PCAL football
In 2024, Pajaro Valley senior Benito Lara-Alvarez was primarily on the defensive side of the ball for the Grizzlies.
Prior to the start of this...
