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Watsonville
April 26, 2026

Unknown substance sickens inmate, officers at jail

Several Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies assigned to guard the Main Jail were taken to the hospital Wednesday after they were exposed to an unknown substance.

An artistic stamp of approval

SANTA CRUZ—Maintaining a tradition of luring the public in to roll up their sleeves and engage in hands-on art projects, view art and meet artists, the Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz drew a large crowd Oct. 4 for a rubber stamp...

Over $30K in stolen bikes and tools recovered from illegal encampment

A man living in a homeless encampment in the Arana Gulch area was arrested Tuesday after he was found with illegal drugs, cash, police scanners and a passel of high-end stolen bikes totaling more than $30,000. Joshua Morris, 35, was charged with grant theft, possession...

Trina Coffman-Gomez running for Watsonville City Council District 6

Four years after she left the Watsonville City Council, having served the maximum two terms, Trina Coffman-Gomez is again running for the District 6 seat. Coffman-Gomez was a council member from 2012-2020, terming out just before she would have been mayor. A Watsonville native, she attended...

Watsonville Film Festival returns for 11th year

Los Tigres del Norte watsonville film festival
WATSONVILLE—The 11th Annual Watsonville Film Festival rolls out the red carpet March 3-12.   Co-Founder and Director Consuelo Alba said the festival will have screenings at the Mello Center and the Watsonville Public Library as well as online viewing opportunities.  “This year’s Festival presents an exciting line-up...

Man accused of killing girlfriend pleads not guilty

Alberto Scalant
SANTA CRUZ—The man who investigators say stabbed his girlfriend to death at her apartment on Clifford Avenue in July pleaded not guilty Tuesday during a brief hearing. Alberto Scalant, 33, returns to court for his preliminary hearing on Nov. 17. He is being held in...

Gottschalks building renovation going to Planning Commission

Watsonville prep Gottschalks building
WATSONVILLE—A proposed redevelopment of the vacant Gottschalks building in the heart of downtown will come to the Watsonville Planning Commission during its Oct. 6 meeting. Navigator Schools, the parent organization of local charter school Watsonville Prep, and the Hansen Family Trust are teaming up to...

Grand Jury reports call for jail oversight, praise PVUSD’s covid response

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury has released the results of its eight latest investigations, which typically delve into the inner workings of county and city governmental operations. While the subjects of the investigations are required to submit responses, they do not...

Carjacking suspect arrested after chase

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz police on Saturday arrested a San Jose man on numerous charges after a chase that led more than 10 miles through the northern reaches of the county. Albert Blanco, 38, was charged with carjacking and felony reckless evading. He was not in...

Friend beats Steinbruner in Supervisor race

APTOS—Second District Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend remained far ahead of challenger Becky Steinbruner Wednesday, with just over 67 percent of the vote. In a packed party in Cantine Winepub in Aptos, Friend gave a short victory speech, which was led off by his...
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Letters to the Editor, April 24-30

Keeping our eye on the Clock My father, an Air Force fighter pilot, and our family, were stationed in Yokohama Japan in 1947 as part...