67.1 F
Aptos
May 25, 2026

Rocks Ranch property sold to Land Trust

Rocks ranch
A stretch of road alongside Highway 101 could soon be home to a tunnel complex turned wildlife crossing under the busy highway. The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County announced Sept. 9 that it has agreed to purchase the 2,640-acre Rocks Ranch in Aromas at...

Capitola Library set for summertime opening

CAPITOLA—Work is moving forward on the Capitola Branch Library on the busy corner of Clares Street at Wharf Road. Currently, workers are installing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems overhead and in-wall, said Megan Blackwell, marketing manager for Otto Construction, the general contractor for the job. Over...

 Local robotics club wins top honors

A Santa Cruz County-based science education group took top honors in a regional underwater robotics competition April 25, earning a return trip to an international contest in Newfoundland, Canada. The Hephaestus Robotics Team, part of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education’s X Academy Robotics...

Covid-19, fires taxing service providers

Second Harvest Food Bank food distribution
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The CZU August Lightning Complex fires have so far destroyed more than 500 homes and forced 77,000 people to evacuate from their community. Those people have flooded evacuation centers throughout the county. That, coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic that has upended the economy...

Lito’s Lounge in Corralitos to amp up evening hours

The owners of the three-year-old Lito’s Lounge, housed in the historic Five Mile House in Corralitos, have always envisioned a place where people could gather, socialize and listen to live music into the evening hours.  That vision got closer to reality recently when the business...

Accused child molester found dead

SANTA CRUZ — The former Santa Cruz neurosurgeon who allegedly molested numerous children in crimes caught on videotape was found dead Sunday morning. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office believes he committed suicide. James Kohut, 59, was in custody since May 2017 in lieu of $7.5...

Supreme Court bans employment discrimination based on sexuality, gender identity

supreme court LGBTQ
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United States Supreme Court made a historic ruling Monday, determining employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited under federal law. The decision is the most significant victory for LGBTQ rights in the U.S. since the legalization of...

Capitola traffic stop uncovers 2 loaded guns,

CAPITOLA—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Monday arrested a man during a traffic stop in the area of 40th Avenue and Clares Street after they found two loaded handguns, pills, more than two pounds of marijuana, a scale and other cannabis products in his...

Farmers markets to reopen

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Catherine Barr, Executive Director of Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets, was in good spirits Tuesday. She had just received news that the Cabrillo Farmers Market in Aptos would remain open during the countywide shelter-in-place order due to COVID-19. “I am over the moon...

Suspected jewelry store burglar arrested

APTOS — Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday arrested a man thought to be responsible for at least one burglary from a business in the area of Aptos and Capitola.