Newsom issues statewide order as Santa Cruz County reports another COVID-19 case
CALIFORNIA—Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide “stay at home” order on Thursday evening, bringing California’s nearly 40 million residents in line with shelter-in-place orders recently issued by Santa Cruz and Monterey county officials.
The directive goes into effect this evening, Newsom said at a press...
Friend beats Steinbruner in Supervisor race
APTOS—Second District Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend remained far ahead of challenger Becky Steinbruner Wednesday, with just over 67 percent of the vote.
In a packed party in Cantine Winepub in Aptos, Friend gave a short victory speech, which was led off by his...
Schools, organizations grapple with coronavirus response
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The World Health Organization on Wednesday classified COVID-19 as a pandemic, as lawmakers and leaders worldwide grapple with rapidly growing numbers of cases.
There are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, and 4,291 people have died. Thousands more have been hospitalized,...
5 takeaways from the unprecedented $2 trillion COVID-19 relief bill
Almost all Americans will soon receive one-time payments from the federal government thanks to the nearly $2 trillion COVID-19 relief bill approved by Congress on Tuesday night, according to the Associated Press.
Details of the unrivaled package are expected to change as leaders continue negotiations...
County mandates Covid vaccine or weekly testing for its employees
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to require all of 2,400 County employees to either take the Covid-19 vaccine or submit to weekly testing.
Employees who refuse both risk termination, or being put on leave without...
Santa Cruz County Fair runs through weekend
WATSONVILLE—When the Santa Cruz County Fair opened Wednesday, Watsonville resident Manuel Monroy was one of the first ones through the gate, his 3-year-old son Leo at his side for the boy’s first fair experience.
On their agenda was the popular All Alaskan Pig Races, a...
Deputy Sheriffs’ Association makes record donation for memorial park
SOQUEL—The Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs' Association (DSA) has offered a $100,000 “challenge” grant to help fund a memorial for Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was killed on duty on June 6, 2020.
The grant is the largest donation in the organization’s history.
The DSA now...
Several state, local races ongoing
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Bernie Sanders captured a majority of California’s votes – and the state’s 416 delegates – making a decent Super Tuesday win for the Vermont Democrat in a night where the majority of votes in 13 other states went to Joe Biden.
Santa Cruz...
State apologizes to Japanese Americans for imprisonment
SACRAMENTO—Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation Thursday declaring Feb. 19, 2020, as A Day of Remembrance: Japanese American Evacuation in the State of California.
Starting in 1942 roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans were rounded up and held at 10 “internment camps” during World War II over...
CHP: Unlicensed teen driver was drunk, had gun and billy club
A California Highway Patrol officer arrested a 16-year-old boy early Wednesday morning on suspicion that he was driving under the influence of alcohol, CHP officer Sam Courtney said.
