Local News

APTOS—In Santa Cruz County, one in four children are considered food insecure, a number Second Harvest Food Bank CEO Willy Elliott‑McCrea called “staggering” and “unacceptable.” The growing numbers of hungry people who struggle to feed themselves and their families was the impetus – and the...

The Aptos woman accused of stabbing her husband to death inside their home on Aug. 24 made her second court appearance Friday, and delayed entering a plea while she hires an attorney.

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) is offering free spay/neuter services for cats, as well as microchipping and vaccinations for $10.

James Baker spent 30 years in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, working his way up from a teacher to superintendent. Over those three decades, the school district was faced with integrating bilingual education, a teacher strike, a year-round schedule, the devastation of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and many other trials and tribulations.

Darrow, who goes by the pen name Verlin Darrow, wrote "The Santa Cruz Guru Murders" and "Shrinking the Truth" in the 1990s. He published “Blood and Wisdom” in 2018.

APTOS—Local artist and Pajaro Valley Arts exhibit coordinator Hedwig Heerschop recently raised $1,000 during the Open Studios Art Tour for children in Ukraine. Heerschop, a fine art photographer and printmaker, raffled off one of her photograph etchings, depicting a blue and yellow sunflower. She sold...

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,...

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...

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...

In all, the district is spending an estimated $28.5 million on a wide array of projects this summer, most of which are funded through Measure L, which was approved by voters in 2012.