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Watsonville
July 9, 2025

Kings Village manager Christopher Ow dies in motorcycle crash

Christopher David Ow, a member of the prominent Santa Cruz real estate family, died recently in a Southern California motorcycle crash, according to family sources. He was 54. Ow was a property manager with Ow Family Properties and was the on-site manager at King’s Village...

Jacob’s Heart expands footprint

Jacob's Heart
Yesterday I was lucky to wander through Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services on West Beach Street to cover a group from the San Jose Sharks who were loading up 70 grocery bags for the community and dropping off a $10,000 check. I was...

Pedestrian hit, killed by vehicle in Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ—A Santa Cruz man died Thursday evening when he was struck by a car as he attempted to walk across heavily-traveled Mission Street. Santa Cruz Police spokeswoman Joyce Blaschke said officers initially responded to a call regarding a vehicle-pedestrian collision at the intersection of...

City Council weighing multiple housing items Tuesday

Watsonville affordable housing
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council at its Tuesday meeting is expected to loan Eden Housing $1 million to help the nonprofit developer build a 53-unit affordable apartment complex on Freedom Boulevard. The loan would come from the City’s Successor Agency Housing Fund, which has a balance...

Man accused of killing his wife pleads not guilty

Cesar Antonio Hernandez
SANTA CRUZ—The Watsonville man accused of killing his wife, and then leaving her body in a vehicle near where she worked in Santa Cruz, made his second appearance in Santa Cruz County Superior Court Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty. Cesar Antonio Hernandez, 47, is...

Three arrested for alleged carjacking

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police have arrested three men suspected of participating in a carjacking on Oct. 30. Manuel Hernandez, 18, Joel Vasquez, 29, and Raul Leal, 23, face several felony charges. They were booked into Santa Cruz County Jail. Hernandez is being held in lieu of $200,000...

Local incumbents trending toward reelection

As the nation awaits the final results of the much-anticipated presidential race, other outcomes at the national and state level have been all but decided. According to results tallied Thursday, 20th District Congressman Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat, had a massive lead over challenger Jeff Gorman,...

Jacob’s Heart gets $10,000 donation

WATSONVILLE—Covid-19 restrictions are keeping many people at home, forcing thousands out of work and making day-to-day chores exponentially more difficult. Imagine, then, the added challenges facing families whose children are affected by cancer, says Lori Butterworth, founder and director of Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support...

Greenfield Police officer arrested on suspicion of domestic violence

WATSONVILLE—A Greenfield Police officer was arrested early Thursday on charges of domestic violence. Christian Tapia, 27, was arrested at 8:03am and booked into Santa Cruz County Jail by the Watsonville Police Department on domestic violence-related charges that officers believe happened in Watsonville. The Greenfield Police Department...

Covid, fires throw renters, landlords into deeper bind

WATSONVILLE—The Covid-19 pandemic has presented many challenges for Santa Cruz County renters, property managers and landlords alike. With renters suddenly out of work and unable to pay most, or even the entirety of their rent, threats of evictions have been looming. For some landlords,...
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Community invited to National Night Out

The public is invited to National Night Out, a series of gatherings held in communities throughout Santa Cruz County on Aug. 5 from 3-7pm. National...