Annual homelessness census shows slight increase
The annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count conducted in January showed that 1,648 people were experiencing homelessness, a 12% increase from 2025.
County officials cautioned that much of the increase reflects changes in how the count was conducted rather than a direct year-over-year increase in homelessness.
For the...
Supervisors mull post-employment lobbying rule
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a new ordinance which, if given final approval on March 8, will impose a one-year “cooling off” period during which former County employees would be prohibited from engaging in lobbying activities for...
Suspects arrested in Tushar Atre kidnapping, murder case
Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the Oct. 1 kidnapping and murder of tech executive and Pleasure Point resident Tushar Atre.
On Tuesday night Kurtis Charters, 22, Joshua Camps, 23, and Stephen Lindsay, 22, were booked into Santa Cruz County Jail charged with murder, kidnapping...
First coronavirus case confirmed in Santa Cruz County
SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Health officials on Saturday announced that the first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in the county.
Officials are not releasing any information about the patient, except to say he or she is “resting comfortably” at home and does not require...
‘Let’s boogie’: FBI outlines driver’s role in Oakland shooting
Editor's note: Story includes vulgarity.
The man who says he served as the driver on May 29 when Steven Carrillo allegedly killed a federal police officer in Oakland—and wounded another one—confessed to his role in the attack after turning himself in to the FBI.
But...
Photo story: Costumed Halloween revelers fill downtown Santa Cruz
COSTUME NIGHT More than 15,000 people attended a massive Halloween party in downtown Santa Cruz Saturday. Music, costumes, dancing, food and more filled out the free open street event. Santa Cruz Police said The Santa Cruz Police the festivities took place without significant incidents...
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...
Santa Cruz County to support lawsuit over planned ICE facility near Gilroy
Santa Cruz County plans to support a lawsuit challenging a proposed federal immigration enforcement facility near Gilroy by joining an amicus curiae brief alongside Santa Clara County and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, county officials announced Thursday.
The lawsuit seeks judicial review of a facility...
State gives central coast counties greenlight to open dine-in restaurants, barbershops
The California Department of Public Health approved Covid-19 County Variance Attestation Forms for both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, the agencies announced Saturday morning.
The acceptance will allow the neighboring counties to advance into Stage 2 of the state's so-called resilience roadmap.
Restaurants can now...
Michael Escobar guilty on all counts
WATSONVILLE—Five years after Michel Escobar gunned down a rival gang member, and killed a young girl when one of his bullets went astray, a jury convicted him of two counts of first-degree murder and several special allegations.
Escobar, now 36, will likely be sentenced to...
