PVUSD trustees table $192M bond measure
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday declined to place a $192 million school facilities bond measure on the November ballot, instead signaling they would revisit the proposal in a future election, possibly in 2026 or 2028.
The measure would not...
Nonprofit helping the community help itself
APTOS—In her more than two decades of working with nonprofit organizations, C.J. Runyon spent eight years with Walu International, which among other things helps provide hand-washing stations to rural communities in Papua New Guinea and Nicaragua, where poor sanitation leads to a myriad of...
Watsonville murder suspect arrested after standoff
Watsonville Police on Tuesday arrested a murder suspect after an hours-long standoff in a strawberry field near Trafton and McGowan roads, just outside Pájaro.
Hector Rocha, 44, of Watsonville, has been charged with first-degree murder. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail, where he...
On the highway of life: Local musician releases new solo album
Keith Rayburn’s musical journey began when his older brother, Craig Rayburn, first picked up a guitar and learned to play.
Sheriff: school threat was joke, no pending charges
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies investigated a potential threat to Aptos High by a student Sunday, and determined the threat via social media was meant as a joke.
On the scene: First responders take part in surf contest
More than two-dozen firefighters, law enforcement officials and paramedics from agencies around the Monterey Bay Area came to Capitola Beach Friday to show off their surfing skills for the second-annual Santa Cruz County First Responder Surf Contest.
Last year, about 15 people participated in the...
Woman arrested after reported kidnapping, high-speed chase
SANTA CRUZ—A woman was taken into custody Monday following a high-speed chase that originated in San Jose and came to a safe end in downtown Santa Cruz.
California Highway Patrol officer Sam Coutney said an elderly man was sitting in a Ford transport van outside...
Piano ensemble raising funds for student music scholarships
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—For the past 19 years, the Celebrate Piano Ensemble (CPE) has provided local pianists a way to explore pieces for two pianos (four to eight hands), all the while aiming to benefit school-age music students in Santa Cruz County.
CPE’s annual February concert...
Mariachis play on, their music unsilenced by the virus or the deaths
Facing the stone archway of St. Joseph’s Salesian Youth Retreat Center outside Los Angeles, the dark wooden coffin holding the body of Juan Jiménez was wheeled next to a band of masked mariachis. The group readied themselves to play, simultaneously lifting bows to violins,...
Watsonville 14U All-Stars captures PONY Coast Region title | Youth baseball
In order to be the champ, one must beat the champ.
The Watsonville 14U All-Stars squad did exactly just that following an 8-1 victory against...
