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SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Though some rural counties are allowing restaurants to open for dine-in service, Santa Cruz County officials are still several days away from giving their restaurateurs the green light. That’s according to county spokesman Jason Hoppin, who on Tuesday said testing and contact tracing...

SOQUEL—A Soquel woman was arrested Friday after allegedly hitting a motorcyclist while driving under the influence of drugs. Karen Veninga-Zaricor, 31, was charged with DUI causing great bodily injury. She was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail, jail records showed. According...

Several dozen protesters descended on the Santa Cruz County Government Center on Wednesday to speak out against a decision by the Board of Supervisors a week earlier not to move forward on a key portion of the Coastal Rail Trail project. While the supervisors on...

A powerful geyser of water blasted into the sky at Main and West Beach streets for more than five hours Monday after a big rig knocked over a fire hydrant just past 10am. The stream of water gushing from the ground was so strong that...

Try this is a weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like. Tarmo Hannula Food Kiantis Pizza & Pasta Bar I love almost all Italian food. A long-time staple in this category, and consistently good, is Kiantis Pizza & Pasta...

Outgoing Watsonville Mayor Maria Orozco on Tuesday handed her gavel to Kristal Salcido, as the Mayor Pro Tempore seat went to Casey Clark. Under Watsonville ordinance, the council members rotate through the mayor positions every December. Before she ceded her seat, Orozco said she completed 26...

The 2025 Annual Fairgrounds Foundation Crab Feed is set for March 1 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.  The event will feature live music, a no host bar, prizes and a silent auction, with winners to be drawn and posted during the dinner.  “We also will...

Santa Cruz County officials on Monday advised that anyone who receives CalFresh benefits will receive an early issuance of benefits for February, beginning the week of Jan. 16-20.

When local conservation pioneer and philanthropist Diane Porter Cooley died last March, members of Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) knew they wanted to pay tribute to her in some way. Cooley was a founding board member of PVA and instrumental in its success over the years....

An Aptos man was arrested on March 21 for several sex crimes involving minors. Kevin Hurley, 67, was charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a child and dissuading a victim or witness, among other charges. He faces a life sentence if convicted. Hurley was not in...