News

A Bombardier Global Express 600 corporate jet sits on the tarmac at Watsonville Municipal Airport on May 21. Airplane aficionados said it is the largest aircraft to land at the airport since 2007 when a C-17 military transport jet touched down during an air...

WATSONVILLE—In November Uriel Mendoza of Watsonville will mark 21 years of being a bus driver for Santa Cruz METRO. When asked what he liked about his job, he plainly responded, “My job.”  His preferred bus route? “I like all of them,” he said. He said his customers are...

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) on Thursday approved a plan to develop an interim bicycle and pedestrian trail on segments 9–11 of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line from San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz to State Park Drive in Aptos. Thursday’s...

Local law agencies found a large stash of illegal firearms ammunition following a routine car stop. According to the California Highway Patrol, officers in April stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in Santa Cruz County. The officers learned that the driver had a suspended...

SANTA CRUZ—A Watsonville man already on probation for two DUI convictions was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for striking and killing a woman while driving drunk one year ago, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell announced.  Alejandro Rocha Fernandez, 28, was drinking...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—State officials have sponsored a community testing site for COVID-19 cases in the Watsonville area, Santa Cruz County Department of Public Health Director Mimi Hall said at Tuesday morning’s Santa Cruz County Supervisors meeting. The hope, Hall said, is it will be operational...

The 48th Annual Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair will run Friday and Saturday at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.  This year the event will feature 110 crafters and 120 booths featuring crafts, gifts, antiques, collectibles, toys, holiday foods, edible gifts and more.  “It’s the perfect...

A Watsonville teen has far surpassed her goal of collecting books for young people, and on Friday gave the books away.

PRUNEDALE—The California Highway Patrol is continuing an investigation into a series of projectiles that have struck 48 vehicles on Highways 101, 152 and 156 since February.   Public Information Officer Jessica Madueño said the attacks, which have injured five people, are increasing in frequency and...

WATSONVILLE—For the first time in 10 years, Watsonville’s Esperanza del Valle (EDV) will be returning to the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts for a weekend of dancing, music and cultural celebration. The nonprofit folklórico dance group was founded in Watsonville in 1980...