News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Watsonville Community Hospital and Dominican Hospital have restarted offering elective procedures after they were put on hold to help slow the spread of Covid-19 and to prepare for a surge of patients with the disease.  This includes procedures such as surgeries, endoscopies, cardiac...

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man was arrested on Feb. 11 after police say he fired a gun into a residence on the 100 block of Hill Avenue. Several people were in the home, including two children, Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said.  Nobody was injured. Daniel Zavala, 28,...

Editor’s note: a story on 19th Congressional incumbent Jimmy Panneta will follow this one. Republican challenger Jason Michael Anderson did not respond to a request for an interview. ••• District Sean Doughery realized his government needed a reboot when he went to Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s office...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Heavy winds pummeled the Central Coast Monday night and into Tuesday, causing numerous power outages, scores of power lines to crash to the ground and several wildland fires, including a large one just north of Watsonville. Dubbed the Freedom Fire by Cal Fire’s...

WATSONVILLE—The three candidates vying for the Fourth District seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors squared off in a forum Tuesday night, touching on transportation, housing and other issues affecting the county. The forum was hosted by the Santa Cruz County Chamber of...

Watsonville City Councilman Jimmy Dutra and Cabrillo College Governing Board Trustee Felipe Hernandez are vying for the 4th District seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in the Nov. 8 election. In last week's Pajaronian, we took a look at the candidates’ 500-word...

SANTA CRUZ—Several inmates at Santa Cruz County Main Jail tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday in what jail officials say is the most significant outbreak since the start of the pandemic. According to Sheriff’s Sgt. Daniel Robbins, about 12 inmates have tested positive are under quarantine...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County and California health officials are recommending that anyone needing a Covid-19 test get it from a sanctioned provider, after an unsanctioned company set up pop-up testing sites in Santa Cruz and Watsonville last week. That company, Encinitas-based Community Wellness America...

SANTA CRUZ—A Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputy assigned as a correctional officer in the jail has been arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship win an inmate, Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ashley Keehn announced Saturday. Jessica Smith was charged with sexual activity with an inmate, assault by...

Watsonville police officer Chance Denecke photographs a bullet at the Sunny Meadows apartment complex Wednesday after two men reportedly carjacked a vehicle. WPD spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said a victim told police two suspects took a Mercedes Benz 250 sedan just after 2pm from him...