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Aptos
January 16, 2026

Historic Aptos building faces uncertain future after Sunday night fire

Aptos SeaBreeze fire
RIO DEL MAR—A fire that apparently started in a pile of rubble in an alleyway behind the SeaBreeze Tavern late Sunday night has destroyed the building, bringing to a close a story that began when it was built 92 years ago in what was...

Bank donates to Teen Kitchen Project

The Santa Cruz County Bank recently donated a gift package to Teen Kitchen Project. Photo contributed

Central Coast, Bay Area fires have leveled more than 1,000 structures

CZU August Lightning Complex fires
Four major fires throughout the Central Coast and greater Bay Area have destroyed at least 1,055 structures, various Cal Fire agencies announced Saturday morning. The SCU Lightning Complex, the River Fire, the Carmel Fire and the CZU August Lightning Complex have chewed through 486,305 acres...

Watsonville Covid-19 testing site now open to all area residents

Watsonville covid-19 testing
WATSONVILLE—The Covid-19 community testing site at Ramsay Park in Watsonville is now open to all residents of Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. First opened to frontline healthcare workers, first responders and employees working in essential services and roles, the site will now test everyone, including...

Ella Porter, kid reporter

When news breaks, rest assured that 10-year-old kid reporter Ella Porter is on the story. Ella is one of 45 young journalists from 10 countries who were recently chosen to write for the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps.

County frees up $500K to curb possible evictions

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved the use of $500,000 in emergency rental assistance funds to help county renters facing eviction pay back rent. The funds—which come from the Planning and the Housing for Health departments and the...

Carjacking suspect arrested after chase

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz police on Saturday arrested a San Jose man on numerous charges after a chase that led more than 10 miles through the northern reaches of the county. Albert Blanco, 38, was charged with carjacking and felony reckless evading. He was not in...

CCC clears access to New Brighton State Beach

In 2017 harsh winter weather led to two landslides engulfing the main beach trail between the bluffs and the Pacific Ocean. While parking in the day-use area up top was no problem, the trail to get campers down to the beach was in shambles.

Santa Cruz County COVID-19 testing still limited as cases increase

SANTA CRUZ—More than 175 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Santa Cruz County, and 24 of them have come back positive.  That’s according to county Health Services Director Mimi Hall, who at Tuesday morning’s Board of Supervisors meeting said that the county is still limited...

United Way accepting applications for Emergency Food and Shelter Program

United Way of Santa Cruz County
The United Way of Santa Cruz County is accepting applications from agencies that provide food and shelter services looking for financial assistance. The local United Way branch will have $340,041 to distribute to qualifying nonprofit, faith-based and local government agencies through its Emergency Food and...