Santa Cruz police seeking ‘Winnie the Pooh Bandit’
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz Police Department is asking for the community’s help in identifying a suspect who wore a distinctive Winnie the Pooh sweatshirt while allegedly committing a burglary at the Costco store in Santa Cruz in March.
In addition, the man is wanted for...
Local water agency works toward long-term drought solutions
In 1983, a group of local farmers looking for ways to manage the Pajaro Valley’s groundwater basin formed the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA). A year later, the agency was officially recognized by the state legislature, who tasked them to stop groundwater overdraft...
City readies for renewed negotiations with PV Arts for Porter Building
WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville is expected to resume negotiations with the Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) Council for the sale of the Porter Building after no affordable housing developers showed serious interest in the historic landmark.
Watsonville and PVA earlier this year had begun early discussions...
One dies, several injured in multi-vehicle Pajaro crash
PAJARO—One person was killed early Sunday morning when a suspected drunk driver crashed head-on into their vehicle in Pajaro, California Highway Patrol officer Jessica Madueño said.
Officers say the suspect, identified as Israel Cruz, 47, was driving east in a Toyota pickup on Hall Road...
A timeline of the coronavirus in California
At midnight, it became official: California is open.
Of course, the coronavirus pandemic isn’t over, and life isn’t back to the way it was before most of us had heard of the mysterious, deadly illness we now call Covid-19.
But the lifting of nearly all of...
Community Foundation awards over $300,000 in scholarships
The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County is honoring the achievements of 32 students with $308,450 in scholarships, funded by a number of local donors.
Donors ranged from everyone from the Henry Cowell family to individual donors inspired by the ongoing Black Lives Matter...
South County vaccinations lagging as state readies to remove restrictions
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Masks, capacity limits and several other mandates imposed by the state to slow the spread of Covid-19 will all become a thing of the past on Tuesday. And while Santa Cruz County health officials in their first press conference since May called...
Photo: RedBall rolls through Watsonville
The RedBall Project, a global public art installation that has been to more than 30 cities since 2001, visits the Cabrillo College Watsonville Center Friday. The display is in celebration of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History’s 25th anniversary. The 15-foot blow-up...
Earthquake rumbles through Central Coast
CENTRAL COAST—A 3.3 magnitude earthquake rumbled through the Central Coast early Friday, shaking some from their sleep.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the temblor struck at 3:35am roughly 2.5 miles north-northwest of Aromas and about 7 miles east of Watsonville.
The USGS said there were...
This Week in Pajaro Valley’s Past, June 11
25 years ago on June 11, 1996
The Agricultural History Project’s Farm Implement Shed was completed and ready for dedication. Located just inside the fairgrounds’ main entrance, it is now used mainly for exhibits, but will eventually display large, antique farm implements. They will include...
Latvia’s Arturs Medveds wins 54th Wharf to Wharf race for a...
Arturs Medveds was on a mission to defend his championship at the 54th running of the Wharf to Wharf race on July 26.
And just...




















