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.
Photo story: Two teens arrested after e-bike chase
A tow operator lifts one of two electric dirt bikes onto a flatbed truck after being stopped by Watsonville Police on Bridge Street Tuesday afternoon. Sgt. Jarrod Pisturino said WPD has received numerous complaints about youths speeding through and around the Vista Montaña housing...
‘Last private beach’ nears sale
A popular North County beach once known for its clothing optional rules is under contract to be sold to an unknown buyer, leaving many fretting about what will become of the property.
County sues pharmaceutical companies
The County of Santa Cruz has filed a complaint against several pharmaceutical corporations, alleging that they are complicit in fueling the national opioid crisis.
The 140-page complaint accuses opioid manufacturing companies of racketeering, negligence, fraud, false advertising and creating a public nuisance.
According to the complaint, drug manufacturers downplayed the risks of prescription opioids in order to increase sales.
Tattoo parlors, nail salons, other personal services OK to reopen Friday
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Massage therapy, nail salons, tattoo parlors and other personal services can reopen in Santa Cruz County on Friday, the county announced Monday.
The county said those businesses should follow state guidance released by the California Department of Public Health June 12 which requires...
Cabrillo leaders to decide on renaming college
APTOS—On Nov. 14, the Cabrillo College Governing Board will meet to answer a question that has been vexing Santa Cruz County for two years: should the name of its community college be changed?
The effort to possibly change Cabrillo College’s name began in 2020, as...
PVUSD to lay off two dozen employees
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a proposal to lay off as many as 24 classified employees, a move district officials say was necessary due to declining enrollment.
Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez told the board that the district has lost...
UC system admits record number of Latinx students
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville High School graduate Kayla Cabrera will be attending virtual classes at UC Berkeley when the fall semester begins on Oct. 1, where she will double major in legal and ethnic studies for a pre-law track.
Inspired by social justice issues she encountered while growing...
Thousands pour into Aptos for World's Shortest Parade
The World’s Shortest Parade in Aptos lived up to its standard of drawing thousands of people, from babies to seniors, to the street — many with their dogs in tow — for a view of the action.
From Little League baseball teams and realty groups, to fire engines, elected officials and modern dance troupes, the parade sent 102 different groups along Soquel Drive under cloudy skies.
With nine California Highway Patrol officers lending a hand in traffic control and in shutting down a short section of Soquel Drive, the festive event proved to have a greater showing of entries than any mid-week Fourth of July parade, said Karen Hibble, co-executive director of the Aptos Chamber of Commerce.
Facebook bans group linked to Carrillo, Justus
The world’s largest social media company announced Tuesday that it has declared the Boogaloo movement a dangerous organization, and is banning it from its platform.
In a post dated June 30, a Facebook spokesperson said that the company began to remove Boogaloo content last year...





















