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SANTA CRUZ—Dozens of homeless people were roused by police officers in their tents early Friday morning at Phoenix Camp, the unsanctioned encampment behind the Gateway Plaza at River Street and Highway 1 in Santa Cruz. The message was clear: the residents were trespassing on city-owned...

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday declared a local emergency in response to the increasing numbers of coronavirus cases. The board also ratified a Mar. 4 declaration by Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel of a local health emergency. Health...

WATSONVILLE — The new Hampton Inn & Suites on Lee Road is slated for an early March opening. Owner Juggy Tut said he is excited about the doors finally swinging open at the 112-room, four-story inn that has largely been constructed during the pandemic. “We’re looking...

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...

This story has been updated with quotes from PVUSD Board Vice President Misty Navarro, and a response from Trustee Gabe Medina. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday will consider a proposal to censure Trustee Gabe Medina. When a body of elected...

A day before the new school year started, with more than 16,000 students returning to class throughout Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Pajaro Middle School celebrated the reopening of the campus following major flood repairs.  When the Pajaro River Levee broke during heavy winter rains...

WATSONVILLE — Watsonville police on Oct. 18 arrested a man suspected of stealing a wheelchair ramp used by a young girl to enter and exit her home. The Santa Cruz County Auto Theft Reductions and Enforcement Task Force (S.C.A.R.E.) arrested Pedro Villanueva, 27. He has been...

SANTA CRUZ — The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office on Monday said the man kidnapped from his Pleasure Point home on Oct. 1 was shot to death, and confirmed he was murdered. Tushar Atre, 50, was kidnapped from his upscale oceanfront home about 3 a.m.,...

El Pájaro CDC this year is celebrating 40 years of transforming people’s lives through entrepreneurship by taking the confusion, guesswork and complexity out of starting small businesses. By offering technical, legal, financial and managerial assistance, El Pájaro CDC has helped launch and nurture small businesses while bolstering economic development within the community.