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September 12, 2026

Weather gives firefighters a break; CZU Complex fires 5% contained

CZU August Lightning Complex
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS—Mother Nature is lending a hand in the fight against the CZU August Lightning Complex fires in the Santa Cruz mountains. Cal Fire Operations Section Chief Mark Brunton said a much welcomed marine layer wandered into the Central Coast as the weekend got...

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...

Local author releases new book

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.

County faces economic restrictions as it inches toward state’s watchlist

Watsonville coronavirus
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County is days away from being placed on the California Department of Public Health’s Monitoring List and facing further economic restrictions, County Health Officer Gail Newel said at Thursday morning’s press conference. With 511 active Covid-19 cases as of Thursday—and more...

Capitola Olive Garden aims for Dec. 17 opening

Final touches are underway at the Olive Garden Italian Kitchen restaurant, the first such location for the chain business in Santa Cruz County. General Manager Lisa Chiorello said the company, with more than 800 restaurants, is aiming to open Dec. 17.

Michael Watkins, longtime county superintendent, to retire

“At the end of my term, I will have led the organization for 12 years,” he said. “I believe in giving others a chance to bring new ideas and leadership to any organization.”

New label honors California farmworkers

June 10 marked the 17th annual release of Bargetto Winery’s “La Vita” wine. The oldest winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains and one of the oldest in the state, Bargetto Winery is celebrating its 85 anniversary this year with a number of events. “Honestly, I think it was the best ‘La Vita’ event we’ve ever had,” said Director of Winemaking John Bargetto. “At least, it was my favorite. The place was packed — and I think the wine turned out exceptional this year, so of course that made it even better.”

Local high school sports pushed to December

High school sports
CENTRAL COAST—The Central Coast Section, the local governing body for schools stretching from San Francisco along the coast to King City, this week unveiled its plans for the fall sports season and beyond.  The governing board on Tuesday announced in a press release that mid-December...

FIFA by the sea: World Cup comes to Santa Cruz County

If there is one place in Santa Cruz County where World Cup fever is expected to burn brightest, it may be Watsonville. “Soccer in Watsonville is extraordinarily unique,” Watsonville Parks and Recreation Director Jason Hall said during a countywide World Cup kickoff press conference on...

Man facing slew of child sex abuse charges had ties to County, officials say

A South Lake Tahoe resident was arrested last week on 99 felony counts related to child sex abuse, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said. Christopher Scott Flanders, 51, was previously a resident in several areas of Santa Cruz County, including Watsonville, Boulder Creek and...