News

About 700 people packed the Mello Center in Watsonville Saturday afternoon for Harvesting Equity, an event where safety, living wage contracts, housing and immigration reform for farmworkers took center stage. At the podium were Mireya Gómez-Contreras, Ann Lopez and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta. To launch...

A Watsonville murder suspect who surrendered after an hours-long standoff last week pleaded not guilty to numerous charges on Aug. 11, and will remain jailed without bail. Hector Rocha, 44, reportedly shot a 42-year-old man on the 100 block of West Beach Street on Aug....

Watsonville Police are joined by other law agencies in serving a search warrant just after 6am Friday at a home on the 500 block of Cereze Street, just off of Bridge Street. The move was part of an ongoing investigation, according to Watsonville Police...

Cabrillo College will keep its name for now, following the Board of Trustees’ 6-1 vote on Monday that defers selecting a new name for the college. In a prior report to the trustees, the board’s Name Exploration Subcommittee had cited a lack of scientific polling,...

For the fourth annual Wine, Beer and Art Walk, locals and visitors can stroll downtown Watsonville to sip local wines and craft beers, sample food, and experience artwork created by local artists and artisans.  On Aug. 19 from 1-5pm, the City of Watsonville and Pajaro...

A large altar has been set up on the 700 block of McKenzie Avenue in Watsonville where Van Michael Turner was shot and killed Aug. 4. Family and friends have placed flowers, votive candles, photos and more at the site. One family member confirmed...

Learning roses in the garden The Monterey Bay Rose Society will host a Meeting and Education Day at the Display Rose Garden at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2661 East Lake Ave., on Saturday at 10am. The event gives the public hands-on experience in the garden...

After delaying the discussion for two months, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved changes to the way its science and art programs are delivered in elementary school classrooms. Under the proposal, which was presented in June by then-Superintendent Michelle...

A census of Santa Cruz County’s homeless population taken in February shows a 21.5% decline since the last count in 2021. Still, one in every 146 Santa Cruz County residents still do not have access to housing, according to the 2023 Homeless Count and Survey,...

UPDATED, AUG. 10: Capitola Police are investigating after someone called in a false bomb threat to New Brighton Middle School, which prompted an evacuation of all students and the cancelation of classes on the first day back from summer break. Police found no devices during a...