45.3 F
Watsonville
February 18, 2026

Pajaro levee project takes another step forward

pajaro levee
WATSONVILLE—Voters who live in proximity to the Pajaro River levee system will soon decide on adding a special assessment to their property tax bill that would help fund the long-awaited Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project. The Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency (PRFMA) on Wednesday...

Santa Cruz museum launches new virtual exhibit

santa cruz lgbt history
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) has launched its first-ever virtual exhibition. “Queer Santa Cruz: Stories of the LGBTQ+ Community in Santa Cruz County” was created with local organization Diversity Center Santa Cruz County. It includes photographs, videos, early queer...

Photo: RedBall rolls through Watsonville

redball project
The RedBall Project, a global public art installation that has been to more than 30 cities since 2001, visits the Cabrillo College Watsonville Center Friday. The display is in celebration of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History’s 25th anniversary. The 15-foot blow-up...

PHOTO: Highway 152 reopens after landslides block road

highway 152 reopen landslide
Motorists navigate a single lane section of Highway 152 (Hecker Pass) Monday. Officials opened the conduit between Watsonville and Gilroy to traffic in both directions following major landslides that closed the highway for more than a week. Drivers should be aware that there is...

County distributes more than $600k in CARES Act grants

Santa cruz county cares funding
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Public Health Division announced Thursday that it has awarded $619,900 in health equity grants to 20 organizations to help address disparities among populations impacted by Covid-19. The funds come from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)...

Gang member arrested on gun, drug charges

A Santa Cruz man was arrested Friday during a traffic stop after police found a stolen gun in his backpack, Santa Cruz County Anti-Gang Taskforce (SCCACT) Commander George Rivera said.

Pajaro Middle School students could return for the 2024-25 year

pajaro middle school flood
When the Pajaro River Levee broke during heavy winter rains in March, floodwaters rushed into the town of Pajaro, displacing hundreds of residents and businesses. It also inundated Pajaro Middle School, forcing the school to close while work crews and district officials assessed the damage...

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum hosts large-scale art exhibit

Bizarre and beautiful plants, bulleting hummingbirds and more often inspire visitors to the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum. And now, through Nov. 17, a large-scale art exhibit on the picturesque hillside takes that inspiration to some intriguing places.

Watsonville police investigating 2nd fatal shooting in 3 days

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police are investigating the second deadly shooting in three days, after a 19-year-old died of a gunshot wound Saturday night near the Pajaro River levee.  Watsonville police around 7pm responded to the dead end of Walker Street near the levee after a caller...

Body found near Big Sur crash site

Emergency officials on Wednesday recovered a body near the area where a missing woman’s vehicle plunged off a cliff on Aug. 24 in Big Sur.
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LEVEE MONEY The Pajaro River meanders through a course of trees and brush near downtown Watsonville.

Padilla, Schiff secure $54M for Pajaro River Levee

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla announced Tuesday that he and Sen. Adam Schiff secured $54 million in federal funding for the Pajaro River Flood Risk...