Pair arrested with marijuana after chase, crash
Two people were arrested Tuesday after a traffic stop led to a chase that ended when the suspects’ vehicle crashed into a building on West Front Street.
Officers later found a large amount of marijuana in the vehicle, the Watsonville Police Department said.
Gabriela Melgoza, 20,...
Rio Del Mar Beach footpath still blocked
The long-running fight over access to the Rio Del Mar beachfront walkway took a turn in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on April 24, as a judge granted a temporary injunction in favor of the homeowners who brought the case led by Christopher Weseloh,...
Monterey Pipe Co. settles wrongful death suit
An out-of-court settlement has been reached in a 2021 death of an employee at Pajaro-based Monterey Pipe Company.
Jairo Ramirez, an El Salvadoran immigrant who lived nearby, died while cleaning the inside of a cement mixer in 2021.
Though a trial had been set for late...
Supervisors tighten immigration enforcement policies
Santa Cruz County supervisors on Tuesday approved a countywide policy outlining how County employees are to respond to federal immigration enforcement activity, while also receiving updates on local safeguards tied to immigration enforcement and surveillance technology.
The new “Federal Immigration Enforcement Engagement and Oversight Policy”...
Duncan Holbert relocation plan shelved
A proposal to relocate roughly 200 students attending Duncan Holbert School to three other elementary school campuses—and move Renaissance High School to that site—was delayed Wednesday after dozens of parents, students and staff implored the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees to...
Crews begin cleanout of Airport Boulevard encampment
Sarah Weaver sat in the alcove of her tent alongside Corralitos Creek on Monday as her tiny dog, Booty, darted about on a long leash.
Behind her, in a living space concealed by layers of tarps and blankets, was the entirety of her life: a...
Hope Village opens its doors
A new 34-bed navigation center aimed at helping unhoused residents living along the Pajaro River corridor officially opened Monday in Watsonville, marking a major milestone in a rare cross-county homelessness partnership.
Hope Village, located at 118 First St., began operations May 18 during Affordable Housing...
PVUSD Board to consider Deputy Superintendent position
Pajaro Valley Unified School District trustees on Wednesday will consider creating a new deputy superintendent position and approving a three-year contract for the role.
The district says the new position would replace the assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and professional development position, which tops out...
Students honored for their ‘Limitless Potential’
A group of film students from Diamond Technology Institute in Watsonville will travel to Los Angeles on May 23 to be honored at the California Student Media Festival for their documentary, “Limitless Potential.”
The 7-minute film features Cristal Gonzalez, a Watsonville High School alumna whom...
Laird bill will help Watsonville Community Hospital
Watsonville Community Hospital could receive millions in emergency state funding under a budget measure signed this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom aimed at helping financially distressed hospitals avoid closure.
The funding comes through Assembly Bill 108, an emergency appropriations measure that creates a one-time grant...
Aptos baseball ousted by top seed Menlo in a walk-off loss...
Aptos High was ousted from the Central Coast Section baseball playoffs in heartbreaking fashion following a walk-off 7-6 loss in nine innings to top...




















