Reward offered, video released in kidnapping case
PLEASURE POINT—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office on Wednesday released a video of the suspects who allegedly kidnapped a man from his Pleasure Point home last month and then killed him.
Tushar Atre, 50, was kidnapped from his upscale oceanfront home on Oct. 1 around...
Multiple local pilots hit in recent laser strikes
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville pilots, and the city’s municipal airport, are asking for help after several aircraft were struck by laser light.
The phenomenon, known as laser strikes, occurs when someone on the ground points a laser light at a pilot.
It is a federal offense, with five years...
County’s young people invited to spend ‘Noon in the Park’
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Families across Santa Cruz County are invited to participate in Noon in the Park, a free, virtual program featuring community leaders singing, reading books and creating art.
Each day is different.
Kate Pavao and Aaron Lazenby, who run the Live Like Coco Foundation, will...
Wetstein, Goodman named Aptos Chamber Man, Woman of the Year
The Aptos Chamber of Commerce recently named Cabrillo College President Matt Wetstein and Lifespan Founder Pam Goodman its Man and Woman of the Year.
A welcome relief
After months of taking a circuitous route to take their children to and from school and to run everyday errands, residents of a small Aptos neighborhood on Aug. 7 for the first time walked across a new bridge that connects them to their community.
Watsonville, Dominican hospitals resume elective procedures
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Watsonville Community Hospital and Dominican Hospital have restarted offering elective procedures after they were put on hold to help slow the spread of Covid-19 and to prepare for a surge of patients with the disease.
This includes procedures such as surgeries, endoscopies, cardiac...
Police warn of porch pirates, offer tips to stop them
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police are warning the public to be on the lookout for holiday package thieves, and are suggesting a few simple safeguards to stop theft.
The issue came to the forefront this holiday season when a resident recorded a daylight burglary from her Watsonville residence...
Realtors warn public of online rental scam
WATSONVILLE—Local realtors and brokers are urging the community to be aware of an online rental scam that is taking advantage of desperate renters.
The scam strips information from sale listings on various websites, repackages them as hyper-affordable rental listings and posts them on sites such...
Looking for a stable location: Pregnant Mare Rescue moves horses
Since Pregnant Mare Rescue was founded in 2006, the organization has saved hundreds of horses that were otherwise destined for slaughterhouses.
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...




















