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Aptos
October 5, 2026

County prepares for potentially strong El Niño

A State Parks Rescue swimmer paddles to shore from a pickup that stalled in flood water on Paulsen Road in 2023. New funding could help prevent this annual event.
Santa Cruz County officials are preparing for winter weather as federal forecasters call for a potentially strong El Niño this fall and winter. The county has updated its El Niño resource webpage with information aimed at helping residents prepare for severe weather, including heavy rain,...

Cabrillo-UCSC housing units ready to lease

The leasing office for Cabrillo College’s Costa Vista student housing development is now open, and college officials say interest is already strong. Cabrillo College President Jenn Capps said Tuesday that staff have processed more than 300 interest forms and 30 leasing applications for the development,...

Supervisors postpone salary question to next year

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to postpone changes to how their salaries are determined, leaving the current system in place until a newly elected supervisor takes office in January. The board voted 4-1, with Supervisor Manu Koenig dissenting, to table...

Capitola Murder suspect pleads not guilty

A 19-year-old man pleaded not guilty to homicide charges Wednesday for the recent stabbing death of a woman outside Capitola Mall.  Tyler Leibelt was arrested July 20 and charged with murder and other enhancement allegations, including lying in wait, for the stabbing of 73-year-old Rachell...

Capitola murder suspect’s juvenile record sealed

A Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge agreed Monday to seal an earlier juvenile protective order against a local teen now facing murder charges for the stabbing of a 73-year-old woman outside Capitola Mall. Tyler Leibelt, 19, has been charged with murder, along with enhancements...

Schacher pulls out of PVUSD Trustee Area 5 race

Aptos resident Jennifer Schacher has withdrawn her candidacy for the Trustee Area 5 seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees. In an emailed statement, Schacher said family obligations contributed to her decision. “This was not an easy decision, but at this time,...

Attorneys seek to seal Capitola homicide suspect’s juvenile record

Attorneys for a 19-year-old charged with a recent Capitola homicide will be in court Monday asking to seal a protective order against the teen granted last year, which included an alleged offense they state was “not intended for public consumption,” and which they argue...

UC Santa Cruz student killed in West Cliff Drive crash

Editor's note: an earlier version of this story contained the incorrect spelling for Steamer Lane. A woman died early Thursday morning after the car in which she was a passenger plunged off West Cliff Drive and landed upside down in the sea.  According to Santa Cruz...

Supervisors ease process for their own salary increases

The Santa Cruz County government building on Ocean Street. (Tarmo Hannula/Pajaronian file)
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a process that will allow them to approve their own raises. In a 3-2 vote, the board agreed to move away from a formula tying supervisors’ salaries to Superior Court judges, opening the door to...

Local officials: We will not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement

Local law enforcement, education and human services officials joined U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta on Tuesday to reassure immigrant families that local agencies will not participate in federal immigration enforcement, as officials described growing fear among residents seeking health care, education, housing and other services. Panetta...