Hearing begins in Pleasure Point kidnapping, murder case
SANTA CRUZ—The four men who investigators say kidnapped and murdered a Pleasure Point man two years ago appeared in court Tuesday for the first day of their preliminary hearing.
Stephen Lindsay, 28, Joshua Camps, 25, and brothers Kaleb and Kurtis Charters, 20 and 23, respectively,...
Rail-trail controversy continues: Greenway says 10,000 signatures show support for trail plan
On Tuesday, a group of Greenway supporters handed a stack of petitions with more than 10,000 signatures to Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s new director Guy Preston.
Watsonville community split on removal of Washington statue
WATSONVILLE—More than 100 members of the community voiced their opinions on the possible removal of the George Washington bust from the Watsonville City Plaza at Monday’s Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.
The public forum lasted more than three and a half hours and was littered...
Watsonville murder suspect arrested after standoff
Watsonville Police on Tuesday arrested a murder suspect after an hours-long standoff in a strawberry field near Trafton and McGowan roads, just outside Pájaro.
Hector Rocha, 44, of Watsonville, has been charged with first-degree murder. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail, where he...
Watsonville Film Festival thrives at Youth Center
The Watsonville Film Festival returned in full force last week, with four days of film screenings, special events and more.
New businesses flock to Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—Several new businesses are in the works around Watsonville, all forging ahead despite the looming cloud of the pandemic.
A new drive-thru Starbucks in Watsonville Square, a Mexican food restaurant in the historic Mansion House, a panaderia (bakery) on East Fifth Street and a taqueria...
Regeneración named finalist for national award
WATSONVILLE—Regeneración-Pajaro Valley Climate Action was recently named a finalist for the ecoAmerica American Climate Leadership Awards.
The honor comes with an all-expenses paid trip for two to Washington D.C. to attend the American Climate Leadership Summit later this month. Additionally, Regeneración and the nine other...
Downtown artwork receives international recognition
Watsonville artist Kathleen Crocetti’s "Celebrating the Diversity of Labor" project was recently awarded the 2019 Best Community Project in the 18th Annual Mosaic Arts International Juried Exhibition.
Council approves alcohol license for new gas station
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday approved a beer and wine alcohol license for an incoming Arco AM/PM convenience store on the city’s outskirts, but not before raising several concerns about future developments in that area.
The gas station and convenience store is part of...
Deputies: Man drove stolen car to face charges for stealing a...
A man was arrested Tuesday for driving a stolen car to the Monterey County Superior Courthouse in Salinas, where he was scheduled to appear...



















