Aptos burglary case ends in mistrial
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office will retry the case of a man who was shot as he allegedly broke into an Aptos residence to burglarize it.
The trial of Damien Welch ended in mistrial Friday when a single juror did not agree...
Two murder suspects escape Monterey County jail
SALINAS—Two inmates escaped from the Monterey County Adult Detention Facility early Saturday.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said 21-year-old Santos Samuel Fonseca and 20-year-old Jonathan Salazar were both awaiting trial on unrelated murder charges along with numerous other felony charges.
The MCSO said Saturday it was...
Running October call list casts light on domestic violence
WATSONVILLE—Every year during the month of October, the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office sends daily statistics to local media, counting the domestic violence calls to which county law enforcement officials respond.
It is a grim tally and a reminder during Domestic Violence Awareness Month...
PG&E customers may be eligible for power shutoff compensation
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers affected by the recent Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) may qualify for reimbursements.
Under its Safety Net program, PG&E pays customers that have gone without power for more than 48 hours due to severe weather events, according to...
County supervisors approve Mid-County auto dealership
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 22 approved a plan to build an automobile dealership at a busy Mid-County intersection, a project that includes demolishing several existing buildings.
The Nissan dealership on the 2.5-acre parcel on the corner of 41st Avenue...
Fire rages through Sonoma wine country
Twelve wildland fires are raging across California, some spurring mass evacuations and destroying multiple homes.
In Sonoma County, 21,900 acres have burned in the Kincade Fire as of Friday. That blaze in popular wine country more than doubled in size in a 24-hour block. Thus...
Moss Landing mushroom business expands to Santa Cruz
SANTA CRUZ—Far West Fungi mushroom farm of Moss Landing is branching out. They recently opened their first-ever store in downtown Santa Cruz.
In the works for the past two years, the new spot will feature about 16 varieties of fresh mushrooms, dozens of dried mushrooms,...
Santa Cruz County faces weekend power shutoff
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Thousands of people throughout Santa Cruz County could lose power this weekend if Pacific Gas and Electric Company conducts a Public Safety Power Shutoff in advance of predicted hot, windy weather.
Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin said that 45,000 people could...
Newsom signs several housing bills
WATSONVILLE—Governor Gavin Newsom on the final day of action for the 2019 legislative season signed Assembly Bill 1783, also known as the Farmworker Housing Act of 2019, which creates a streamlined process to build farmworker housing on agricultural land.
The bill was authored by Assemblymember...
Teacher arrested for child sex crimes
SAN LORENZO VALLEY—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday arrested a Felton man for several counts of lewd acts with children.
Michael Henderson, 51, was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail.
Henderson is a teacher at San Lorenzo Valley High School...
