News

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville residents will have a new representative at the federal level after the June primary following a massive political shift in the recent decennial redistricting process completed last month. Formerly included in the 20th Congressional District with the rest of the Central Coast, Watsonville will...

WATSONVILLE—Author Tony Di Leonardo was visiting the Watsonville Square shopping center when he first noticed Kelly’s Books. Walking into the small independent bookstore, he started chatting with owner Kelly Pleskunas about his debut novel, “Death by Drive-By,” which had just been released in December...

Owner Chip Kirchner, who in late March purchased the property from Swenson Builders for $5 million, said roof repairs alone cost roughly $110,000. He said he plans to invest about $350,000 in the property in the first year alone.

A Santa Cruz man died after a shark attacked him at Sand Dollar Beach, which is part of Manresa State Beach. Ben Kelly, 26, was pronounced dead on the shore in front of Cañon del Sol, a gated community of 97 townhome units on...

CENTRAL COAST—As the holiday season barrels ahead and gift-giving inches closer for some, the United States Post Service (USPS) has taken on extra help and expanded its hours.  In Watsonville, to brace for the uptick, postmaster Vicki Amarus said the post office has hired four...

CAPITOLA—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Monday arrested a man during a traffic stop in the area of 40th Avenue and Clares Street after they found two loaded handguns, pills, more than two pounds of marijuana, a scale and other cannabis products in his...

Today is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who was born in 1820. She was a British social reformer and statistician, and the founder of modern nursing. She rose to prominence while serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War where she...

SANTA CRUZ—A man and a woman were arrested Thursday on suspicion of carrying out a series of armed robberies around Santa Cruz. Manuel Alejandro Montoya, 21, and 28-year-old Leilani Marie Allen, both of Santa Cruz, were taken into custody on a host of charges, said...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County has committed $5 million to help a local group of healthcare professionals purchase Watsonville Community Hospital’s operations. The County’s Board of Supervisors passed the item without comment, since it was on the consent agenda. The Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project (PVHDP)...

WATSONVILLE—If Dino Saavedra had it his way, he would open his new Watsonville restaurant this weekend. “My dad just wants to start cooking already,” Saavedra’s daughter, Andrea Saavedra, said. “I think we’re all excited to open up.” Dino and Andrea Saavedra will have to keep a...