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Watsonville
August 24, 2026

Guest View: County jails are failing people awaiting trial

letters to the editor
Recently, we learned of a hunger strike in the Santa Cruz County main jail. Due to intolerable conditions, nine men awaiting trial started a hunger strike on Nov. 8. Five remained on hunger strike for nearly a month. Their demands?  • That jail staff treat...

Supervisor’s Update, April 2025

Spring into Action Spring is here, bringing with it a season of exciting community events, important updates, and opportunities to get involved! From a family-friendly bike ride this weekend to the return of the Young Supervisors Academy. Here’s a look at what’s happening in our...

Woody Rehanek: Science proves pesticide’s destructive nature

For the last 18 years, I taught a special education class in the Pajaro Valley. Many of my students were farmworker children with learning disabilities: problems paying attention, reading difficulties, hyperactivity, autism, lower IQ and struggles with self-control. I was shocked to discover that one of the most widely used pesticides in the world — chlorpyrifos — has, after over 20 years of solid research at UC Davis, Berkeley, Columbia University and elsewhere, been linked to these difficulties in learning and behavior.

Election Letters to the Editor, June 1

Election Letters to the Editor, June 1, 2018

Letters to the Editor, April 8

letter to the editor pajaronian
Measure D will waste taxpayer money Supporters of Measure D always promise us that we can railbank our county rail and eventually reinstall rail at a later date. They cite Denton County, Texas as an example of this happening. Since I lived in Denton years ago,...

Letter to the Editor, Sept. 26: Oppose the Graham-Cassidy proposal

Letter to the Editor, Sept. 26, 2017

Letters to the Editor, March 18

letter to the editor pajaronian
We stand with LGBTQ+ people We are a group of LGBTQ+ and allies in fifth through eighth grade at Watsonville Charter School of the Arts, and are members of our Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs. We were very upset to learn about the hate crime...

Vital questions about the rail project

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s (RTC) $9 million Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail project study (ZEPRT) has generated heated debate and confusion.  While the project promises to combine passenger rail and active transit in one sweeping vision, fundamental questions about its feasibility,...

Masks

Jay Shinseki Watsonville
In the month of October, many will be celebrating or observing Halloween. It is surprising how many people have embraced this “holiday.” As Buddhists living here in America, we have assimilated into the culture and traditions and many will observe Halloween with parties, giving...

The Best of the Pajaro Valley, decided by you

Mid-January is one of my favorite times of the year. The NFL playoffs are just getting started, and my San Francisco 49ers don’t stink this year, which is a plus. The weather is starting to heat up to the perfect temperature in which I...
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Felon arrested with firearms, suppressors, ammunition and methamphetamine

An investigation that began with a traffic stop accelerated when investigators found multiple firearms, firearm suppressors, high-capacity magazines, ammunition, firearm manufacturing components and methamphetamine...

Man arrested after standoff

Climate change turns lethal