Sheriff’s detectives arrest wallet thief
SCOTTS VALLEY—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s detectives on Wednesday arrested a Live Oak man suspected of using credit and bank cards stolen from a firefighter’s truck to make thousands of dollars in purchases.
Brian Lee Johnson, 34, has been charged with using stolen credit cards, receiving...
County unveils budget
Santa Cruz County officials on Tuesday opened public hearings on a proposed $1.29 billion budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, warning that federal funding cuts, rising labor costs and growing structural deficits are forcing difficult financial decisions in the years ahead.
The recommended budget includes...
County supervisors move to streamline rebuilding process
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday set the stage for a streamlined process for rebuilding the homes and other structures damaged in the CZU August Lightning Complex fire.
The item was part of the consent agenda and therefore garnered no...
Roaring Camp Pushes Back on Reported Railbanking Talks
It’s just after noon on Jan. 28, and a Roaring Camp train is getting ready to leave the station to wind its way up the Santa Cruz Mountains.
“We’re two minutes late now, but that’s OK,” says the announcer on board, as the last stragglers...
Short trip, big rewards in San Francisco
Road trips around California—including Sacramento, Atascadero, the desert, San Diego or north to Half Moon Bay and Fort Bragg—have time and again proven worthy of the fuel, hotel costs and drive time for me and my wife Sarah over the past several years.
Whether an...
Sheriff’s deputy, security guard thwart inmate escape
SANTA CRUZ — A Santa Cruz County Jail inmate was recaptured Monday during an attempted escape on a visit to Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dee Baldwin said.
Community leaders push for Census 2020 participation
WATSONVILLE—A New Year has begun, and with it comes the start of Census 2020.
The U.S Constitution mandates that every 10 years the country’s population should be counted. The information is then used to distribute federal funding and to determine political representation in each state.
“The...
Monica Martinez named Pride Month honoree
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...
National leadership award lands in local hands
Gina Castañeda, who founded Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy, received this year’s Kim Crabbe Game Changers Award from the U.S. Soccer Federation.
She received the award in Atlanta, Georgia Saturday for creating Aztecas in 2008 and for being a driving force behind a wealth of local...
Ross Camp reopens
SANTA CRUZ—An unsanctioned homeless camp in Santa Cruz has reopened, this time with a new name, increased security and a set of rules designed to reduce crime and drug use.
The so-called Ross Survival Camp at River Street and Highway 1 was opened on Monday...
