Local News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel on Tuesday revised her shelter-in-place order to align most of the county’s restrictions with that of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order. The new county order will open places of worship, in-store retail, outdoor museums and limited...

A tow operator lifts one of two electric dirt bikes onto a flatbed truck after being stopped by Watsonville Police on Bridge Street Tuesday afternoon. Sgt. Jarrod Pisturino said WPD has received numerous complaints about youths speeding through and around the Vista Montaña housing...

UC Santa Cruz researchers found a new technique that forecasts harmful algal blooms (HABs) up to seven weeks in advance. This new method uses copepods, zooplankton that eat toxic algae, as a part of the measuring system.  Copepods produce a chemical called copepodamide, which the algae...

Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the Oct. 1 kidnapping and murder of tech executive and Pleasure Point resident Tushar Atre.  On Tuesday night Kurtis Charters, 22, Joshua Camps, 23, and Stephen Lindsay, 22, were booked into Santa Cruz County Jail charged with murder, kidnapping...

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Monica Martinez has been selected as state Sen. John Laird’s 2026 Pride Month honoree and was recognized Tuesday at the California State Capitol during the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus's annual Pride Month celebration. Martinez, who represents Santa Cruz County’s Fifth District...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency announced that there are now 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus. The announcement comes less than two weeks after Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel announced the county’s first case on March 7. The increasing...

ew United Way of Santa Cruz County Executive Director Keisha Frost was a fifth-grader when the local United Way brought in Boy and Girl Scout programs to her community. The organization’s efforts proved to be a pivotal moment in her life. “I had a safe space and caring adults every day of school,” she said. When United Way helped establish a track-and-field program at Frost’s school, she found her passion. She was named the third-fastest hurdler in the state of California in high school, a career that peaked when she went to the 1996 Olympic Games.

Santa Cruz artist Shirley Lehner-Rhoades is currently showing 13 of her paintings on the first floor of the Santa Cruz County Building. As part of the ongoing exhibits put on by the Arts Council Santa Cruz County, the works will be on display through March 16. For information, call 566-5741 or visit www.lehner-rhoades.com or www.scottsvalleyartcenter.com.

CAPITOLA—Pier 1 Imports announced Tuesday that it will close all 540 of its stores nationwide, sell its inventory and liquidate its assets. The sales will begin at the Capitola store as soon as the Santa Cruz County Health Department allows it to open. The company’s website...

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz police on Saturday arrested a San Jose man on numerous charges after a chase that led more than 10 miles through the northern reaches of the county. Albert Blanco, 38, was charged with carjacking and felony reckless evading. He was not in...