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Watsonville
June 20, 2025

Two shot in Santa Cruz Harbor

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Two people were shot Thursday night in the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor, and police from several jurisdictions are looking for the suspects. Watsonville police were among several law enforcement agencies on the scene. Santa Cruz Police officers found two victims who had been shot.  Both victims...

Sheriff Hart announces retirement

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart announced his retirement Wednesday, a move that will cap a 36-year career with the department when he steps down Dec. 6. He has endorsed Undersheriff Chris Clark to succeed him. Hart, who is serving his third term, says his decision...

Adrian Gonzalez’s bid for freedom denied, case heads to jury trial

A Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge ruled Tuesday that there is enough evidence that the man who raped and killed 8-year-old Madyson (Maddy) Middleton in 2015 would pose a continued danger to the public if he is released. Adrian Jerry (A.J.) Gonzalez, now 24,...

Thousands attend Strawberry Festival

A collection of images from the Watsonville Strawberry Festival from Aug. 2-4.

Missing Watsonville woman found dead

A hiker in Corralitos found the body of a 25-year-old Watsonville woman Sunday morning after she had been reported missing under suspicious circumstances Saturday night.  “This is an ongoing investigation, and we are investigating Lizbeth Arceo Sedano’s death as a homicide,” said Santa Cruz County...

Police seeking missing woman

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Watsonville Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a 25-year-old woman after she was reported missing Saturday night after her partner threatened police and was shot. WPD spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said Lizbeth Arceo Sedano has not been seen since Saturday night. Her partner, Joshua...

Strawberry Festival returns Saturday

The City of Watsonville and a wealth of local businesses are gearing up for the sweetest event of the year, the annual Watsonville Strawberry Festival.  New among the myriad food and beverage choices this year is a strawberry beer by Watsonville’s Fruition Brewing, brewed with...

Watsonville, Santa Cruz clearing homeless camps

Days after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing jurisdictions throughout the state to address the homeless camps within their borders—and about one month after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that laws banning sleeping in public do not constitute cruel and unusual punishment—unsanctioned...

Foundation offers plastic waste solutions for farmers

California Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF) has advice for farmers who have accumulated huge heaps of used plastic, specifically used drip system tape and hoop house film. CMSF Water Quality Program Coordinator Jazmine Mejia-Muñoz met via Zoom with Pajaro Valley residents concerned about the massive amounts...

Hazelwood Park gets mural uplift

A community project helped spruce up Hazelwood Park Mural on July 27 as part of the ongoing Watsonville Community Mural Paint Day.  Organized by Paul De Worken of Monterey Bay Murals, the one-day day event drew around 50 volunteers to Hazelwood Park, located at 297b...
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CAO Carlos Palacios Resigns After 30 Years

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors announced that County Executive Officer Carlos J. Palacios will step down in December after more than 30 years in local government leadership