News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Recycling is an idea that has become deeply embedded in modern culture, so much so that many don’t think twice before placing cans, bottles and cardboard into the appropriate bins. Beginning this year, a new law will let California residents do the same...

WATSONVILLE—Yocelyn Gonzalez, a senior at Pajaro Valley High School, shadowed outgoing Watsonville Mayor Francisco “Paco” Estrada and recently seated Mayor Rebecca Garcia on Wednesday after winning the Mayor for the Day essay contest earlier this month. Gonzalez followed the two leaders from 9 a.m. to...

WATSONVILLE—Minutes after Santa Cruz County received state approval to reopen barbershops and hair salons on May 30, barber Rigo Navarro said he received the first of what would be a flood of calls from his loyal customers asking when he would be open for...

PAJARO—A 30-year-old Royal Oaks woman died in a two-vehicle crash in Pajaro Wednesday. California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Jessica Madueño said the woman, who has not been named, was traveling eastbound on San Juan Road at 12:47 p.m. while passing unsafely through a two-way turn section...

SANTA CRUZ—A man was shot late Tuesday night in the Beach Flats area of Santa Cruz near the Beach Boardwalk. At least two shots were reported by multiple witnesses around Third Street at Kaye Street at 9:14 p.m. Joyce Blaschke of the Santa Cruz Police...

Pajaro Valley High School is hosting a virtual ribbon cutting ceremony for its new sports complex at 2pm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftpTyQr2oOA

APTOS—Cardboard is a material that nearly everyone has at their disposal. Often used in packaging and shipping, it is usually broken down to recycle or saved to reuse. But cardboard can also be full of possibilities for artists. This is apparent at “Extraordinary Ordinary,” Cabrillo...

On Feb. 26, the United Methodist Church (UMC) voted at a global conference in St. Louis, Mo. to further its restrictions on same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy.

SANTA CRUZ — The former Santa Cruz neurosurgeon who allegedly molested numerous children in crimes caught on videotape was found dead Sunday morning. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office believes he committed suicide. James Kohut, 59, was in custody since May 2017 in lieu of $7.5...

Watsonville resident Don Spence, a Korean War veteran, added another chapter to his own story in April, when he went on an Honor Flight with 25 other veterans.