Supervisors ease process for their own salary increases
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a process that will allow them to approve their own raises.
In a 3-2 vote, the board agreed to move away from a formula tying supervisors’ salaries to Superior Court judges, opening the door to...
Youth bands to perform in scholarship fundraiser
Be Natural Music is holding a live performance and fundraiser on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St. in Santa Cruz.
Covid-related deaths at Watsonville nursing home reach 15
WATSONVILLE—Gerald Hunter, the former director of Watsonville Post Acute Center, announced on Oct. 19 that he has stepped down from the position.
On the facility’s website, Hunter stated that Rae Ann Radford has taken the job. The announcement did not give a reason for the...
Watsonville Film Festival 2020 cancelled
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) announced Wednesday that it will be cancelling its 2020 festival, which was scheduled to start tomorrow and run through Sunday.
A letter from WFF Executive Director Consuelo Alba and the Board of Directors said that the festival has been cancelled...
METRO hosts Stuff the Bus donation site
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) and Toys For Tots will host METRO’s first Stuff the Bus donation site on Dec. 11 at Target in Watsonville.
METRO and Toys For Tots are teaming up to collect donations of new and unwrapped toys...
Annual Stuff the Bus Food Drive makes a run
The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) held its annual Stuff the Bus Food Drive in partnership with Woodstock’s Pizza, Second Harvest Food Bank and Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce Wednesday in downtown Santa Cruz.
To help local families facing food insecurity during the...
Fireworks sales set to begin, enforcement steps up
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Law enforcement officials around the county are gearing up in an effort to keep illegal fireworks off the street this summer, as Fourth of July approaches and residents who have been cooped up for months look to blow off steam.
Enforcement has become...
Proposition 50 starts strong, with 64% of the statewide vote
This story has been updated with new results and with a statement from the Santa Cruz County Republican party chair.
Statewide voting results Wednesday morning showed Proposition 50 ahead by a large margin, with just over 63% of Californians voting yes, and 77.2% of Santa...
Man arrested after lengthy standoff
A man who held police at bay while armed with a knife was arrested late at night on Sept. 4 outside a Herman Avenue home in Watsonville.
At around 8:40pm, Watsonville Police officers responded to the 300 block of Herman Avenue following reports of a...
Local farms respond to changes during COVID-19 crisis
WATSONVILLE—As shoppers flock to grocery stores, stocking up on fresh, frozen and canned foods, California farms are working to keep up with the demand.
In Watsonville, large and small farms alike are sending unprecedented amounts of products to local and national stores, as well as...
Melendrez pleads not guilty in Larkin Valley Road death
A Watsonville man pleaded not guilty in Santa Cruz Superior Court Wednesday to the slaying of 39-year-old Christopher Fagon.
Alvaro Melendrez, 42, remains in County...






















