News

SANTA CRUZ—The man who shot a Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s sergeant to death—days after killing a federal building security guard in Oakland during a crime spree two years ago—pleaded guilty Monday to the local charges. Steven Carrillo, 33, a former U.S. Air Force sergeant, will...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Returns late Tuesday night show Santa Cruz County Supervisorial candidate Manu Koenig far outpacing John Leopold for the First District seat. If Koenig’s lead holds, it will unseat four-term incumbent Leopold. He holds roughly 56% of the 28,064 votes that have been tallied...

Construction workers tear out the surface of a portion of Airport Boulevard Wednesday. Patrice Theriot, principal engineer for the city of Watsonville, said the project involves replacing several hundred feet of road surface on Airport Boulevard from Freedom Boulevard, west to the existing road...

Xipetotec Galindo helps his daughter, Coral Gonzalez, 3, apply paint to a large outdoor mural on the walls of La Manzana on West Lake Avenue in Watsonville. Watsonville artist Yermo Aranda, who originally created the mural, has been working with community members in restoring the mural. The...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—California health officials on Tuesday moved Santa Cruz County into the less restrictive “Moderate” or Orange tier, meaning that several businesses can reopen and welcome in more customers. The move means that the county is seeing 1-3.9 new cases per 100,00 in population....

Dozens of people gathered in downtown Watsonville Friday afternoon to celebrate the completion of a new large outdoor mural at Community Bridges at the corner of Main Street and West Lake Avenue. Titled “Wisdom of Our Elders,” the colorful 225-foot-by-32-foot mural represents a collaboration between...

Two weeks ago, a group of Aptos High School students and staff picketed in front of the school to publicize their concerns about losing the school’s seven-period schedule. The loss of the extra class at Aptos High was seen as a necessity after the Pajaro...

WATSONVILLE—An 3.6-magnitude earthquake struck Corralitos around 10am Saturday, just hours after a 2.6-magnitude earthquake shook Gilroy around 11pm on Friday. According to the United States Geological Survey, the quakes' epicenters were near the San Andreas Fault line. On social media, several people said that they...

SANTA CRUZ—The annual Guelaguetza Santa Cruz festival unfolded Sunday at Branciforte Small Schools, an outdoor event that celebrates the culture of Oaxaca, Mexico. Dazzling costumes and dance, a large orchestra—heavy in brass and woodwinds—food tents, arts and crafts of the region and plenty of sunshine...