News

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to expand the county’s Focused Intervention Team (FIT), which pairs law enforcement officials with behavioral health specialists and other supportive services to address high-frequency criminal offenders. The program launched on Jan....

SANTA CRUZ—The California Highway Patrol is looking for a driver who fatally struck a pedestrian late Monday night, and then fled on foot. According to CHP Officer Sam Courtney, the 47-year-old victim was walking in the area of Highway 1 north of Shaffer Road when...

Santa Cruz County is moving to the looser restrictions of the Yellow Tier starting Wednesday, May 19, county health officials announced Tuesday.  Here are some of the key changes that will start Wednesday, according to the county’s press release: Bars may open indoors at 25% capacity, or...

WATSONVILLE—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is reaching out to the community for help in solving a 1995 homicide in Watsonville. Investigators say that Gloria Hassemer’s body was found along the Pajaro River Levee near the Highway 1 overcrossing on June 10, 1995. Hassemer, 41,...

WATSONVILLE—Vanessa Quiroz-Carter was sworn in as the new representative for the Watsonville City Council's 2nd District at Tuesday night’s virtual meeting. Quiroz-Carter, a Watsonville native who most recently served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission, said she was excited to continue the work of...

SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 28 signed Assembly Bills 2043 and 2165, two pieces of the California Farmworker Covid-19 Relief Package, the nation’s first legislative package containing Covid-19 protections for agricultural workers. Assemblymember and Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and Assemblymember...

WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville has reinvented its Bulky Items Collection Program. Abandoned years ago, the program now offers Watsonville residents a free chance to unload mattresses, appliances, some furniture, tires, carpeting and more. Gabe Gordo, Solid Waste Division Manager, said the program is available to residents...

WATSONVILLE—During a recent cleaning of her house, Aromas author and artist Joyce Oroz discovered a set of acrylic paintings tucked away in a corner of her attic.  She had painted the pieces about 20 years prior and almost forgotten about them.  “I knew I couldn’t just...

A former Watsonville hotel is set to be converted into a 120-bed residential treatment facility for men, significantly expanding substance use disorder treatment capacity in Santa Cruz County. Janus of Santa Cruz officially received the keys on March 9 to the former Rodeway Inn property...