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Aptos
October 21, 2025

Fundraiser for slain Sheriff’s deputy raises more than $320k

Damon Gutzwiller
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Peace Officers Research Association of California has established a fundraiser for the family of Damon Gutzwiller, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Deputy who was shot and killed in the line of duty Saturday in Ben Lomond. The account has collected more than...

Santa Cruz County Covid-19 cases see largest jump to date

Watsonville coronavirus
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County on Monday saw its largest single-day jump, 20, in Covid-19 cases since the virus started its spread along the Central Coast in early March. The case spike increases the county’s active cases to 100, and raises its total case count...

County joins lawsuit to halt oil, mineral extraction

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 agreed to allow the county to join a lawsuit that would stop the federal government from issuing leases for fossil fuel extraction within its borders. The lawsuit would in essence help preserve local...

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...

Garden opening marks rebirth of Aptos Library

Ofelia Garcia (right) of the Friends of the Aptos Library speaks to a crowd gathered to celebrate the opening of the walk-through garden at Aptos Library. Photo by Bek Sabedra

Santa Cruz shifting homeless as way to slow virus’ spread

SANTA CRUZ—Several uniformed Santa Cruz police officers were on Water Street Friday morning, along with a group of city workers, tasked with dismantling and moving a homeless encampment that has grown along the north wall of the downtown post office, and in other places...

Atre murder suspects delay arraignment

tushar atre court hearing
SANTA CRUZ—Defense attorneys came forward in the Superior Court of Paul Marigold Tuesday to represent the four suspects in the Oct. 1 kidnapping and murder of tech executive and Pleasure Point resident Tushar Atre. Stephen Lindsay, 22, Kaleb Charters, 19, Kurtis Charters, 22, and Joshua...

Rancho Del Mar work underway

APTOS — Renovation work is moving forward on the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center. Terramar Retail Centers, the company that owns and operates the center, began demolition work on Oct. 9. The construction work will be divided into three phases and should take about a year to complete, TRC announced Friday.

Alleged Sheriff’s deputy killer makes first appearance in federal court

Steven Carrillo
SAN FRANCISCO—The Ben Lomond man accused of killing two law enforcement officials—and trying to kill two others—in Santa Cruz County and the City of Oakland, made his first appearance in federal court Tuesday. Steven Carrillo did not enter a plea during the short hearing in...

Santa Cruz County jury trials to resume

Santa Cruz County courthouse
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County Superior Court plans to resume jury trials in late summer, a little more than two months after they were temporarily suspended due to concerns over Covid-19. Presiding Judge Paul Burdick announced on March 17 that all jury trials—including criminal, civil...