Watsonville, Dominican hospitals resume elective procedures
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Watsonville Community Hospital and Dominican Hospital have restarted offering elective procedures after they were put on hold to help slow the spread of Covid-19 and to prepare for a surge of patients with the disease.
This includes procedures such as surgeries, endoscopies, cardiac...
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.
Demolition begins at Hideout restaurant
The Hideout “family” started a GoFundMe account to help defray rebuilding costs and raised more than $44,000 of their $50,000 goal.
County frees up $500K to curb possible evictions
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved the use of $500,000 in emergency rental assistance funds to help county renters facing eviction pay back rent.
The funds—which come from the Planning and the Housing for Health departments and the...
County Supervisors ban ‘discriminatory reports’ to law enforcement
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance that prohibits so-called “discriminatory reports” to law enforcement, and allows victims to seek financial compensation when it happens to them.
Discriminatory reporting was brought to public light in 2020, when...
Three decades of PVUSD tales
James Baker spent 30 years in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, working his way up from a teacher to superintendent.
Over those three decades, the school district was faced with integrating bilingual education, a teacher strike, a year-round schedule, the devastation of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and many other trials and tribulations.
Brews, music and food
“California Beer Festival’s main goal is to shine a light on the craft beer movement and celebrate great beer,” said Festival Producer/Creator Vincenzo Giammanco, a Santa Cruz native. “For all those new, and familiar to the craft beer scene, this event is
County changes rules for vacation rentals
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved placing a moratorium on new vacation rentals countywide, along with several other rules meant to limit the growing industry.
The trustees will consider on June 30 whether to extend the 45-day moratorium.
Supervisor John...
Deputy Sheriffs’ Association makes record donation for memorial park
SOQUEL—The Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs' Association (DSA) has offered a $100,000 “challenge” grant to help fund a memorial for Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was killed on duty on June 6, 2020.
The grant is the largest donation in the organization’s history.
The DSA now...
Seven homes on deck from Habitat for Humanity
A total of seven homes are planned for an ongoing Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay project in the Live Oak area of Santa Cruz.
