Head Start programs will stay open through Oct. 31
One week after announcing that funding woes could force local Head Start and early Head Start programs to close, Encompass Community Services—which oversees the programs—announced that they will remain open through Oct. 31.
The announcement means that the 250 families that depend on the early...
Monterey County feels brunt of dangerous pesticide use, study shows
More than half of pregnant women in Monterey County are exposed to pesticides believed to be harmful to their fetuses, and a quarter of the pesticide used in California is applied in Monterey County.
Those statistics are part of a study released Sept. 30 by...
Georgeann Eiskamp dies
Georgeann Cowles Eiskamp, a Watsonville native known for her volunteerism and steadfast dedication to her community, who successfully ran Cowles Berry Farm, and who helped shape the Down To Earth Women Luncheon as co-founder and the first board co-chair, died Sept. 22 of natural...
Hijos del Sol mural taking shape in Pajaro
Community Bridges has chosen Hijos del Sol of Salinas to design and create a new mural in the heart of Pajaro on a wall on the 400 block of Salinas Road.
Community bridges stated in a press release that the work will portray “a lasting...
Thousands will lose health, food benefits under OBBBA
About 40,000 Santa Cruz County residents who depend on Medi-Cal—more than half of the 78,000 people with that coverage—could lose it after the passage of H.R. 1—President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
That was the message Tuesday from Santa Cruz County Human Services...
Bicyclist dies in hit-and-run crash
A 51-year-old male bicyclist died early Tuesday morning in a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of South Green Valley Road and Carey Avenue.
Watsonville Police said the bicyclist, who has not been identified, died at the hospital Wednesday night.
The crash happened shortly after 6am. The...
Head Start programs facing layoffs, closure
Encompass Community Services in Santa Cruz announced Wednesday that its Head Start and Early Head Start programs are facing an immediate funding crisis due to sudden federal policy changes.
Unless funds are restored, the organization said, Encompass will be forced to close 15 classrooms and...
Photo story: Minor injuries in rollover crash
A Watsonville man suffered minor injuries Monday when he lost control of his Toyota Tundra pickup and rolled upside down on a hillside on Highway 1 in Watsonville. The California Highway Patrol said no other vehicles were involved. The man was entering southbound Highway...
Watsonville man gets 25 years for sex crimes, human trafficking
A Watsonville man was sentenced to 25 years and 8 months in state prison for human trafficking, sexual assault and drug crimes, Santa Cruz County District Attorney, Jeffrey Rosell announced Monday.
Luis Alberto Salas pleaded no contest on Aug. 29 to multiple counts of human...
Cabrillo, UC Santa Cruz launch first-of-its-kind joint student housing project
In about two years, UC Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College officials plan to open a student housing complex that is expected to revolutionize the way local students live and attend school, and how they pay for their living space.
A group of educators, elected officials...
Thousands attend No Kings rallies
Thousands of people crowded into Watsonville Plaza and surrounding streets Saturday as part of the nationwide No Kings protest against President Trump, his administration...
