Local News

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said Friday that his deputies–along with law enforcement officials across the county–plan to enforce the beach restrictions issued Thursday by Health Officer Gail Newel. The health officer imposed the rules to slow the spread of the novel...

SCOTTS VALLEY—Cool, moist weather throughout the day continued to help firefighters battle the CZU August Lightning Complex fires, which have now scorched 78,684 acres, and as of Monday night was 13% contained, firefighters told reporters during a press conference. During the conference, Santa Cruz County...

SISKIYOU COUNTY—The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday arrested a man in connection with the shooting death of a former Santa Cruz County man. Timothy Chase McDonald, 22, of Yreka was arrested for murder and was booked at the Siskiyou County Jail in Yreka. He...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County on Wednesday announced that a man in his 60s died from Covid-19 on Aug. 15. County spokesman Jason Hoppin said that the man was unvaccinated and had underlying health conditions. The death was the 210th in Santa Cruz County attributable to...

APTOS—Hundreds gathered Wednesday for Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller's memorial at Cabrillo College under brilliant sunny conditions. Gutzwiller, a former Cabrillo student and Aptos resident, was gunned down while on duty June 6 in Ben Lomond. The event began at 7:45am with a...

WATSONVILLE—Cal Fire on Tuesday night ordered more than 22,000 residents in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties to evacuate as the CZU August Lightning Complex fires began to spread throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains. Temporary shelters have been set up across the region to house...

WATSONVILLE—Wherever he is touring in the world, Santana lead singer Andy Vargas makes sure to let everyone know about his hometown of Watsonville. “I’ve always been proud to be from Watsonville,” Vargas said.  “I tell people that they’ve probably ate our berries or drank our...

When Freedom Tattoo and Piercing opened in Watsonville a decade ago, they were the first tattoo parlor to come to the city. Now, after moving to Aptos, they are once again the lone tattoo business in town.

SANTA CRUZ — A Santa Cruz woman was arrested Thursday for allegedly slashing 25 tires on vehicles parked on the 2800 block of Soquel Avenue on Feb. 16.

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Ariadne Symons on Monday announced she will retire from the bench at the conclusion of her current term in 2020. Symons issued a press release outlining her nearly four-decade career. “Serving for more than a decade on the bench...