Supervisors ease process for their own salary increases
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a process that will allow them to approve their own raises.
In a 3-2 vote, the board agreed to move away from a formula tying supervisors’ salaries to Superior Court judges, opening the door to...
Local officials: We will not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement
Local law enforcement, education and human services officials joined U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta on Tuesday to reassure immigrant families that local agencies will not participate in federal immigration enforcement, as officials described growing fear among residents seeking health care, education, housing and other services.
Panetta...
Who Got Out to Vote?
Young voters barely turned out for the June primary, while people over 55 made a heavy showing.
Registered voters over the age of 55 displayed a turnout rate of about 67.83%, while those between the ages of 18-34 had a 29.52% turnout rate, based on...
Annual homelessness census shows slight increase
The annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count conducted in January showed that 1,648 people were experiencing homelessness, a 12% increase from 2025.
County officials cautioned that much of the increase reflects changes in how the count was conducted rather than a direct year-over-year increase in homelessness.
For the...
Voters to decide on new half-cent sales tax
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously voted to place a half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot that would fund an array of “safety net” services in the face of looming state and federal cuts.
The board also declared the...
Supervisors to weigh emergency tax measure
In a special meeting Tuesday, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will consider declaring a state of fiscal distress and asking voters to approve a temporary half-cent sales tax that county officials say is needed to offset steep federal funding cuts and protect...
Stuff the Bus volunteers pack 2,500 backpacks for students
More than 150 volunteers gathered Saturday at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz with a simple mission: make sure thousands of Santa Cruz County students are ready to begin the school year.
Working assembly-line style during the 17th annual Stuff the Bus Stuff-A-Thon, volunteers filled...
Aztecas Youth Soccer Club unveils new clubhouse
Christian Chavez was struggling with anxiety while attending Pajaro Valley High School and frequently refused to go.
“I was just staying home,” he said.
Christian, 15, was eventually placed at Sequoia High School, a smaller campus tailored for students struggling academically and emotionally.
He also joined Aztecas...
Community briefs
Hed: Free STEM camp offered for Watsonville youth
Children of the Fields, a local nonprofit focused on expanding educational opportunities for underserved youth, will host a free two-day STEM camp for children ages 6-12 on Aug. 3-4 at the Watsonville Community Center, 275 Main St.
The...
Teen Kitchen Project looks to expand its recipe for community care
When Angela Farley founded Teen Kitchen Project more than a decade ago, the idea was born from one of the most difficult chapters of her life.
As her 5-year-old son underwent chemotherapy, Farley found herself facing an everyday challenge familiar to countless caregivers: after spending...
