News

Watsonville voters on Tuesday approved Measure V, which will allow all residents to serve on the city’s commissions. This includes the Parks and Recreation, Personnel, Library and Planning commissions.  Previously under Watsonville’s current rules, only registered voters could serve in those positions. Supporters say the change will...

Valencia Elementary School was closed Friday after numerous students were sickened by what is likely norovirus. The school will reopen Tuesday. Pajaro Valley Unified School District notified parents in an email on Nov. 7. “The purpose of the school closure is to stop the additional...

Updated 11/6 at 10am Watsonville City Councilman Jimmy Dutra held on to his lead Wednesday in the race to keep his District 6 seat against challenger Trina Coffman-Gomez, increasing his lead to just over 54% of the vote, early results showed Thursday. Dutra, who also...

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will see a change next year, as incumbents Georgia Acosta and Adam Scow took a back seat to challengers Carol Turley and Jessica Carrasco. Results posted as of 1:30am Wednesday showed Turley ahead for the Trustee...

With the spotlight Tuesday on Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. Presidency—and the Republican Party’s reclaiming of the Senate and likely keeping its House majority—there were also several local election results that will change the face of local politics. Preliminary results  posted Thursday by the...

A Watsonville woman was taken into custody on Nov. 1 just past noon on suspicion of stabbing a man multiple times. Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said  officers responded to reports of a stabbing in the 100 block of 2nd Street shortly before 12:30pm, where they...

The County of Santa Cruz has begun installing surveillance cameras at key locations in unincorporated areas of the County to help prevent illegal dumping, a strategy to protect the environment and help keep Santa Cruz County clean. Illegal dumping costs local taxpayers nearly half a...

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a plan to allow customers in marijuana dispensaries to smoke onsite in so-called cannabis lounges. They also green-lighted a three-year pilot program to allow limited sales and consumption at marijuana farms. Both proposals brought no-votes from...

Cold rain showers managed to slip in the door before October wrapped up, with temperatures dropping and a dowsing shower early Thursday morning. Meteorologist Dial Hoang of the National Weather Service of Monterey said the colder, wet system moved into the region from the Pacific...

The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency celebrated its 40th anniversary Tuesday during a lively open house gathering. The casual affair, at the Civic Plaza Building’s Community Room, drew close to 100 people, from dignitaries in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, to farmers, various area boards,...