23-year-old man dies after collision with pickup
A 23-year-old motorcyclist died Sept. 23 morning following a collision with a pickup on Corralitos Road, the California Highway Patrol said.
CHP officers responded at about 7:01am to the intersection of Corralitos and Merk roads.
According to CHP, a 61-year-old Watsonville man was driving a white...
Dolly Parton’s Legacy Lives On: 20,000 Books to Santa Cruz County Children
When we learned that Dolly Parton had passed away on Aug. 25, so many of us in Santa Cruz County felt the loss personally, not just as fans of her music, but as a community lucky enough to carry a piece of her legacy...
Olympian finds home at Jim Booth Swim School
At Jim Booth Swim School, kids as young as 4 months spend time in the water, building the skills to become strong swimmers under the guidance of certified instructors.
Three-time Olympian swimmer Nicolas Nilo Oliveira didn’t get that opportunity.
Oliveira grew up in Belo Horizonte, Brazil,...
Watsonville Hospital facing closure as staff urges financial improvements
Watsonville Community Hospital may close in the next six to 12 months if it does not improve its financial situation.
That was the message from hospital CEO Tim Moran at Tuesday’s Pajaro Valley Health Care District special meeting.
According to CFO Julie Peterson, the hospital lost...
Watsonville City Council limits Flock cameras
After months of public debate, the Watsonville City Council has decided to deactivate and remove 17 Flock cameras, reducing the number of cameras in Watsonville from 37 to 20. Additionally, data will only be stored for seven days as opposed to the previous 30...
Community responds to latest Moss Landing fire
A fire on Sept. 18 burned through part of the battery energy storage facility that was significantly damaged during the January 2025 Vistra battery fire.
Monterey County officials announced the fire was no longer an active threat around noon later that day, though shelter-in-place notices...
County officials outline voting options ahead of election
Santa Cruz County election officials have a message for voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election: Consider voting naked.
The advice, County Clerk Tricia Webber explained Tuesday, refers not to the voter but to the ballot.
A “naked ballot” is a vote-by-mail ballot that a voter...
County Fair sees 11% growth in attendance numbers
More than 55,000 people attended the Santa Cruz County Fair this year, an 11% jump from last year.
The number includes paid attendance from the public as well as the fair’s long list of volunteers, said fair spokesman Ron Haedicke.
“There were no major incidents and...
Sheriff opposes placement of sexually violent predator Michael Cheek in Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz County Sheriff Chris Clark is opposing the proposed placement of a man designated as a sexually violent predator at a home in the Santa Cruz Mountains, citing concerns about the remote location and potential difficulties for law enforcement.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s...
Battery fire no longer a threat, officials say
Monterey County officials said at noon Friday that the latest fire at the Vistra battery energy storage facility in Moss Landing was no longer an active threat to the surrounding community.
Officials said there was no active fire and no indication that hazardous materials from...
Contreras tapped to lead San Luis Coastal Unified
Two and a half years after taking the helm of Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Superintendent Heather Contreras will be leaving for a new...
