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Watsonville
October 7, 2026

Digital NEST celebrates anniversary

Every weekday, scores of young people throughout South County get out of school and come to Digital NEST, where they set out to master the varied technology that increasingly drives their world.

Supervisors revamp rules for wireless communication facilities

Santa Cruz County
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to repeal and completely replace the county’s ordinances governing wireless communication facilities that allow coverage for cell phones and the internet. The new rules essentially speed up the permitting process...

Man who tried to kill officers denied parole

watsonville police
SALINAS—A man convicted two decades ago of trying to kill two Watsonville Police officers was denied parole this week after a hearing at Salinas Valley State Prison, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell announced Wednesday. Manuel Murillo, 42, was also convicted of dozens of...

County Supervisor candidate Dutra faces sexual assault lawsuit

jimmy dutra
WATSONVILLE—A man has filed a civil lawsuit in Santa Cruz County Superior Court, claiming that 4th District Supervisorial candidate Jimmy Dutra molested him when he was 12. A case management conference is scheduled for Feb. 3. The Pajaronian typically does not name victims in stories involving...

California Congressional Delegation protests Army Corps of Engineers cuts

Flooded agricultural field
A dozen members of the California Congressional Delegation urged the House Appropriations Committee to reject the Trump Administration’s drastic cuts to USACE.

Kaiser working to offer Medicare coverage, official says

Medicare recipients hoping to see a doctor at Kaiser Permanente will have to continue waiting.

Sergeant retires after nearly three decades with Watsonville Police

watsonville police sgt mike ridgway
A festive farewell lunch Dec. 21 set the tone for the final day of duty for Watsonville Police Sgt. Mike Ridgway as he set his sails toward retirement. As part of the departure, a 911 dispatcher delivered a statement over the police radio: “This is...

Santa Cruz police treating suspicious death as a homicide

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz police are investigating the death of a man whose body was discovered Sunday in a rural setting in the Soquel hills. A person checking a property line in a wooded area off of Glen Canyon Road near Redwood Drive in Santa Cruz...

Watsonville residents may receive emergency test alerts

county of monterey emergency management logo
The County of Monterey Department of Emergency Management has begun testing a new Alert Monterey County emergency alert software and system, and Watsonville residents may receive notifications, officials advised.  Residents in certain areas of Monterey County began receiving emergency test messages earlier this week. More...

Numerous services at risk

When Vice President Mike Pence cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate on March 30, he helped overturn an Obama-era rule that forbade states from denying grants to organizations such as Planned Parenthood.
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Heather Contreras

Contreras tapped to lead San Luis Coastal Unified

Two and a half years after taking the helm of Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Superintendent Heather Contreras will be leaving for a new...