News

WATSONVILLE—An inmate at the Rountree Medium Facility on the outskirts of Watsonville escaped Friday afternoon, leading to an intensive search that ended with his capture later the same day. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashley Keehn said Christopher Dicochea escaped around 3:45pm from the correctional center on...

Starr Linden and Andy Griffin stand on a gentle slope overlooking part of their sprawling Watsonville farm, each of them taking turns describing the process of creating the property’s centerpiece—a hand-built labyrinth of 3,000 fragrant lavender plants. “This was a Covid project,” Griffin said proudly. Using...

APTOS—The Aptos High girls soccer team notched another shutout with an 8-0 win against Pacific Collegiate School on Saturday afternoon. The Mariners’ defense has not allowed a goal in three straight games, having outscored opponents 20-0 during that span. The Mariners were coming off a 7-0...

WATSONVILLE—In the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees race, Trustee Area 6 incumbent Maria Orozco has garnered more than 5% of the 6,145 votes tallied as of 2pm Thursday, putting her far ahead of Adam Bolaños Scow and likely clinching the seat.  “I’m...

Every year, California’s legislators send a flurry of bills to the governor in hopes he or she will sign them. And that’s before the byzantine legislative process that leaves most proposed laws on Assembly and Senate cutting floors. In 2023, the lawmakers sent off 1,046...

SANTA CRUZ—A UC Santa Cruz student who lives off-campus has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in self-isolation, UCSC Chancellor Cynthia Larive announced Friday. “The student was last on campus March 16 and is doing well,” Larive said. The university is coordinating with local public health...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Nov. 17 began the process of redrawing the boundaries of the district’s trustee areas, a required decennial undertaking that follows the census. During redistricting—which occurs in counties, cities and other jurisdictions nationwide—officials redraw their boundaries...

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved a plan to provide free vision screenings at most of its elementary schools, and free glasses to students who need them.

WATSONVILLE—When Covid-19 shelter-in-place restrictions hit Santa Cruz County in March, the Eighth Annual Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) was one of the first large events to be shut down. Executive Director Consuelo Alba and her team were forced to cancel the multiple film screenings, activities and...