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Watsonville
February 28, 2026

Two killed in Monterey plane crash

Monterey plan crash
MONTEREY—Two people aboard a twin-engine propellor airplane died Tuesday morning after the small aircraft slammed into a home in Monterey off of Highway 68. Eric Gutierrez, a safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, confirmed Wednesday that two people died when the Golden Eagle...

PHOTO: Volunteers offer a helping hand on College Road

college road cleanup
Volunteers help remove stacks of sandbags Saturday at the flood-stricken College Road neighborhood as part of a large-scale cleanup. The one-day event, which drew more than 100 people, was organized by Supervisor Felipe Hernandez and his Chief of Staff Ramon Gomez. Numerous members of...

Fairgrounds shelter for Pajaro flood victims closes

santa cruz county fairgrounds flood evacuation shelter
On Monday, Beatriz Lopez stood in the doorway of the Pajaro residence she shares with 10 family members, recalling the 45 days she spent in the emergency shelter at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Back home for just a week, she said the shelter was...

PVUSD enrollment steadily declining

PVUSD
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday heard a grim budget report which, while it shows that the district can cover its expenses for the next three years, it also predicts that declining enrollment will severely drain its general fund. PVUSD...

Police looking for Utah woman missing from Rio Del Mar State Beach

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office is looking for Danielle Staley, 35, who was last seen on Nov. 6, around 11:23pm near Rio Del Mar State Beach. New information indicates she may be at risk, and foul play may be involved, SCSO said. She is described...

Grand Jury reports probe government response, homelessness, risk preparedness

Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Grand Jury every year investigates different aspects of local government and civic operations throughout the county, and its findings typically produce detailed reports of positives and negatives found during the investigations. But while those investigated are required to respond...

Nine residents have died with Covid-19 at Watsonville nursing facility

Watsonville Post Acute Center covid
Update (3:45pm, Oct. 7) Santa Cruz County health officials announced Wednesday that five more residents of Watsonville Nursing Center and Post Acute Center have either died from Covid-19 or died with Covid-19 listed as a contributing cause, bringing the death toll at the skilled nursing...

Honoring the homeless who died this year

About seven years ago, Marie Riggs was living in a homeless shelter and addicted to alcohol, wondering how she would survive this low point in her life. “I was a hopeless mess,” she said. “I had no idea how to live, I didn’t know how...

Santa Tour kicks off tonight in Watsonville

WATSONVILLE—Santa Claus will be making an early appearance in Watsonville this week, visiting neighborhoods to spread some holiday cheer. The second annual Santa Tour, which began last year during the height of the pandemic, kicks off tonight and will make its way through more neighborhoods...

Annual tour gives a taste of farming

The annual Open Farm Tour unfolded over the weekend in Santa Cruz County where 13 organic farms welcomed the public to showcase their growing operations, methods and products. “Last year was just freaky, weather-wise, with all the rain and cold,” said Jean Thomas at Thomas...
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Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah addresses about 150 high school students at the start of the Santa Cruz Countuy Youth Civics Summit at Cabrillo College.

Students learn the power of the vote at Civics Summit

On Friday, about 150 high school juniors from across Santa Cruz County cast their first ballots on three issues that, if passed, would dramatically...