Watsonville nurses rally against ICU closure
Several dozen Watsonville Community Hospital nurses and staff warned Wednesday that closing the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit—an idea they said officials have floated amid deep financial strain—would put patients at risk and weaken the countywide emergency care system.
Hospital CEO Steven Gray said in a...
Watsonville murder suspect pleads not guilty
A Watsonville murder suspect who surrendered after an hours-long standoff last week pleaded not guilty to numerous charges on Aug. 11, and will remain jailed without bail.
Hector Rocha, 44, reportedly shot a 42-year-old man on the 100 block of West Beach Street on Aug....
24-hour Highway 1 closure coming March 23
Caltrans is scheduled to close both directions of Highway 1 for a 24-hour block on March 23/24 to make way for the demolition of the 1948 Capitola Ave. overcrossing.
Kevin Drabinski, spokesperson for Caltrans, said the work is the second phase of the three-phase project...
Council approves $100K for emergency rental assistance
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville renters struggling to keep up with their monthly payments because of the Covid-19 pandemic could soon receive some relief.
The Watsonville City Council at its Tuesday meeting approved the use of $100,000 from its general fund to establish an Emergency Rental Assistance Program for...
Gobernador Newsom: boletas por correo para todos los votantes en Noviembre
Cada votante registrado en California recibirá una boleta de votación por correo para las elecciones de Noviembre después de que el Gobernador Gavin Newsom firmó una orden ejecutiva el viernes.
La orden requiere que los funcionarios electorales de cada condado envíen boletas de votación por...
Poetry program returning to library
Magdalena Montagne is bringing back the popular Poets’ Circle Poetry Reading Series, with the inaugural event slated for Thursday.
PHOTO: Santa Cruz County's first baby of 2019
Veronikka Velez and Alejandro Rodriguez-Duarte of Watsonville welcomed the birth of their baby boy, Alexander Joseph Rodriguez, Tuesday at 1:03 a.m. at Dominican Hospital.
City seeks to expand cannabis businesses
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday will provide direction on major proposed modifications to the City’s cannabis laws, including the possible addition of multiple dispensaries.
According to the staff report prepared for Tuesday’s meeting, the City is recommending the addition of two retail licenses as...
Ella’s at the Airport owner granted lease transfer
WATSONVILLE—Ella’s at the Airport will indeed change hands after the City of Watsonville and owner/operator Ella King came to an agreement on a five-year lease that is set to be transferred to new owner/operator Chielo Apac.
The Watsonville City Council approved the lease and transfer...
Illinois-based former Pajaronian owner News Media Corp abruptly closes
News Media Corp., the Rochelle, Ill.-based company that owned The Pajaronian from 1995 to 2019, abruptly ceased operations Wednesday, informing employees at its remaining 11 publications in five states in an email that they no longer have jobs, effective immediately.
The company had been in...
Queer Youth Leadership Awards approaching
The Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA) has, in the decades since its inception, honored young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people (LGBTQ+) whose...


















