Local News

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA—In 2013 Galeria Tonantzin, one of San Juan Bautista’s few art galleries, closed its doors after more than 20 years. Its absence, said artist and gallery co-founder Jennifer Colby, has been noticeable in the small community. “I know how much people have missed having...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz Police on Tuesday arrested a Watsonville man after he allegedly traveled to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf to meet who he thought was an underage girl for sex. Valentin Rodriguez, 62, was charged with meeting a minor for lewd purposes. He...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees has convened Friday afternoon for a special meeting to discuss appointing an interim superintendent. The board is meeting tonight to select a replacement for Michelle Rodriguez, who was abruptly fired Wednesday. But the board has broken into...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The annual Latino Role Models conference will return for its 11th year—in a virtual format—Saturday from 9:30am-1pm. The free event was founded and is still organized by Senderos, a nonprofit that aims to create successful pathways for the Latinx community of Santa Cruz...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County is days away from being placed on the California Department of Public Health’s Monitoring List and facing further economic restrictions, County Health Officer Gail Newel said at Thursday morning’s press conference. With 531 active Covid-19 cases as of Thursday—and more...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday heard the first reading of a new district policy which, if adopted on second reading on Sept. 28, would add several religious holidays during which district officials and teachers would not schedule events. PVUSD...

WATSONVILLE—A two-year process to create a plan of action for Watsonville’s downtown got underway Wednesday.  A who’s who of city leaders, law enforcement officials, community program directors, downtown business owners, developers and housing advocates convened for the public meeting — the first of several planned...

WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville recently agreed to settle a lawsuit over the 2018 death of a Watsonville man. Robert Castillo, 44, died after being struck by multiple cars on Highway 1 hours after he was detained on Nov. 23, 2018 by a Watsonville Police Department...

WATSONVILLE—Two local boys were recognized by multiple local leaders at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.  Adrian Maldonado, 11, and Edwin Rodriguez, 12, received certificates, gifts and recognition from Watsonville Mayor Francisco Estrada, Santa Cruz County Office of Education Superintendent Faris Sabbah, Watsonville Chief of Police David...