56.5 F
Aptos
July 18, 2026

Soquel water rates to rise

SOQUEL — The Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors on Tuesday approved a five-year rate hike for its customers, which district officials say was created to help the district better maintain its aquifer supplies, fund ongoing operations and prevent saltwater intrusion caused by groundwater overdraft.

Farmers markets to reopen

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Catherine Barr, Executive Director of Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets, was in good spirits Tuesday. She had just received news that the Cabrillo Farmers Market in Aptos would remain open during the countywide shelter-in-place order due to COVID-19. “I am over the moon...

Man arrested for large cache of drugs, guns

Joseph Watts
SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday arrested a man after finding more than three pounds of heroin and several illegal firearms in his possession. Joseph Watts, 65, was charged with drug possession, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He...

County dipping into reserves to cover Covid-19 deficit

Santa Cruz County
SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Chief Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios told the Board of Supervisors Monday that it should spend $20 million in reserves to fill a deficit for the 2019-20 fiscal year caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. That move will be a sizable slice of...

4.6 magnitude earthquake rattles Central Coast

A 4.6-magnitude earthquake centered in Boulder Creek rattled the Central Coast at 1:41am Thursday morning, with tremors felt as far north as Santa Rosa, northwest to Sacramento and Fresno and south to Salinas, according to the United States Geological Survey. No damage or injuries were...

County joins lawsuit to halt oil, mineral extraction

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 agreed to allow the county to join a lawsuit that would stop the federal government from issuing leases for fossil fuel extraction within its borders. The lawsuit would in essence help preserve local...

PVUSD repairing multiple schools throughout summer

In all, the district is spending an estimated $28.5 million on a wide array of projects this summer, most of which are funded through Measure L, which was approved by voters in 2012.

Window to the past

The public will be given a chance to take a huge step back in time at the Santa Cruz County History Fair in Capitola on May 18.

County changes rules for vacation rentals

Santa Cruz County
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...

A 'bridge to the community'

“We want the community to understand the importance of the Porter Gulch Review,” said Margarito Rodriguez, a member of the English 1B class that publishes the book.