PVUSD administrator arrested on sex charges
A man who has worked for Pajaro valley Unified School District for more than a decade was arrested Sept. 3 on sexual assault charges.
Ivan Alcaraz, 37, was charged with oral copulation of an unconscious person. He was out of custody after posting $50,000 bail,...
Celebration marks Mexican Independence Day
A Mexican Independence Day Festival unfolded in downtown Watsonville Sunday. Put on by Fiestas Patrias, the free event features live music, food booths, arts and crafts and information tables spread out around Watsonville's downtown plaza and surrounding streets.
The holiday, also known as El Grito...
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...
Picnic honors labor in Watsonville
The Monterey Bay Central Labor Council held their Labor Day gathering at Romo Park in Watsonville on Sept. 2.
Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez (left) and Luis Alejo, Monterey County Supervisor (second from right) joined other county leaders and family members from Santa Cruz...
Jimmy Dutra’s civil trial begins
Watsonville City Councilman Jimmy Dutra was in Santa Cruz County Superior Court Tuesday, where jury selection began for his civil trial.
The trial is expected to last through Sept. 13, Judge Timothy Schmal told the mostly empty courtroom.
Dutra is accused of sexually abusing a boy...
Jennifer Holm resigns from PVUSD school board
Jennifer Holm, who has served for six years on the Trustee Area VII seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees—two terms as board president and one as vice president—will resign from the position effective Oct. 10.
Holm says her decision stemmed...
Ozzy’s Pizzeria uses fresh, local ingredients to create scrumptious delights
Tim Silva has a great love affair with pizza.
He knows what it takes to build a good pie, especially having worked with Pizza My Heart for the past 36 years.
Silva, who is still part owner of the popular local pizza chain, recently ventured off...
TWO CROW’S NEST VICTIMS CRITICAL, SUSPECT ON THE LOOSE
Nearly three weeks after the Aug. 8 double shooting after a beach party at the Crow’s Nest restaurant rattled the Santa Cruz community, no arrests have been made.
Two victims were shot multiple times and remain in critical condition this week. Police have not disclosed...
Fitness center expands
After opening a new fitness center on Green Valley Road in Watsonville just over a year ago, Toadal Fitness continues to expand services, including major renovations of the pool.
The Watsonville club, at 25 Penny Lane, is part of a group of centers sprinkled around...
Attorney General, local law enforcement officials arrest 22 in statewide pot shop burglaries
California Attorney General Rob Bonta was in Santa Cruz County on Thursday to announce the arrest of 22 people who are facing a total of 32 felony charges stemming from multiple burglaries of marijuana dispensaries throughout the Bay Area.
Dubbed “Operation Sticky Fingers,” the arrests...
Thousands attend No Kings rallies
Thousands of people crowded into Watsonville Plaza and surrounding streets Saturday as part of the nationwide No Kings protest against President Trump, his administration...