Reward offered, video released in kidnapping case
PLEASURE POINT—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office on Wednesday released a video of the suspects who allegedly kidnapped a man from his Pleasure Point home last month and then killed him.
Tushar Atre, 50, was kidnapped from his upscale oceanfront home on Oct. 1 around...
Escobar handed two life sentences
SANTA CRUZ—The man who gunned down a rival gang member and killed a 4-year-old girl in the crossfire nearly six years ago was sentenced Thursday to two consecutive terms of life without parole in state prison.
Michael Escobar, 36, also received more than 12 years...
Santa Cruz Chorale wrapping up season
The Santa Cruz Chorale will close out its 2018-2019 season April 27-28.
The performance features selections from Joseph Haydn and Felix Mendelssohn.
Santa Cruz County jury trials to resume
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County Superior Court plans to resume jury trials in late summer, a little more than two months after they were temporarily suspended due to concerns over Covid-19.
Presiding Judge Paul Burdick announced on March 17 that all jury trials—including criminal, civil...
Santa Cruz County orders residents to stay home to halt COVID-19 spread
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County officials on Monday ordered all residents to stay home unless engaging in "essential services."
The shelter-in-place order, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday and lasts through April 7, is an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19,...
Keeping pets safe on Fourth of July
WATSONVILLE—After months of being shuttered during the countywide response to Covid-19, Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s (SCCAS) Watsonville location has opened once again.
The reopening came a few days before the Fourth of July, a holiday known to cause lost pets and disrupted wildlife from...
Garden opening marks rebirth of Aptos Library
Ofelia Garcia (right) of the Friends of the Aptos Library speaks to a crowd gathered to celebrate the opening of the walk-through garden at Aptos Library. Photo by Bek Sabedra
Bricks highlight Aptos community
APTOS—Lasting memories of loved ones, events, businesses and organizations might now last a little longer in Aptos thanks to the Celebration Brick Program and a festive ribbon-cutting ceremony that unfolded Saturday.
About 100 people gathered around one of eight tree wells at the Village Green,...
Santa Cruz County fair canceled
WATSONVILLE—Every year on the outskirts of Watsonville, late summer brings the intoxicating aroma of fried food, along with the sweet summer cacophony of carnival rides, livestock and giant, jubilant crowds.
But those voices will fall silent this year at the Santa Cruz County Fair, after...
Spring signals hope for struggling shops
Some merchants in the Capitola Village are keeping their doors open till 8 p.m. to cater to the local crowd. Photo by Tarmo Hannula