News

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday ended its policy of bringing drug-sniffing dogs into classrooms, a decision sparked when several people spoke against the practice during the twice-monthly meeting.

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville-based nonprofit Digital NEST announced it will open a new location in Stockton next year.  The expansion into the Central Valley kicks off plans to scale up to a total of nine communities in Northern California by the end of 2026. The Stockton hub is...

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a tentative offer of seven portable classrooms at E.A. Hall Middle School to a charter school set to open in August.

A blast from a fire hose showers off the side of a mobile home at the Portola Mobile Home Park on Freedom Boulevard Thursday.

MOSS LANDING—Two women died after their car plunged into the water of Moss Landing Harbor sometime late Friday night or early Saturday morning. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victims as Maria Vanessa Carrango, 35, and Esther Monique Espinoza, 28, both of Salinas....

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—Planners have identified five sites throughout downtown Watsonville that, if renovated, they believe could become potential economic catalysts for the historic but currently sleepy business corridor. Those plans include the razing of the Old City Hall building and current Watsonville Police Department headquarters between Main...

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance that will, in a little more than two years, ban the sale of filtered cigarettes in unincorporated areas of the county. The Supervisors will hear a second reading and final adoption on...

WATSONVILLE—Five candidates have pulled papers to possibly run for Watsonville City Council in the upcoming Nov. 8 election, a key decision day that will see major turnover in South County leadership. Current Watsonville Mayor Ari Parker is running for reelection in District 7, which encompasses...

Every day, roughly 100,000 vehicles travel along Highway 1 through Santa Cruz County, a staggering number that is evidenced by daily rush-hour backups that can last for hours. That’s to say nothing of the often packed surface roads. That contributes to air pollution and global warming,...