The huge swells that hit Santa Cruz County in late December have delayed the reopening of a two-way West Cliff Drive until mid-February, assuming there are no further weather impacts.
Watsonville / Pajaro
Posted inLatest News
As cold snap chills Santa Cruz, county urges homeless into temporary shelters
Santa Cruz County is in the grips of a cold snap set to last through Tuesday, with temperatures potentially dropping below 30 degrees in parts of Watsonville. County officials are opening three shelters for the unhoused.
Posted inLatest News
Military bomb washes up on Santa Cruz County beach after storms
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said the large military device that washed up at Pajaro Dunes was believed to be a practice bomb from the 1960s. Members of the Travis Air Force Base removed it from the beach.
Posted inEducation
Santa Cruz County public schools projected to have steepest enrollment decline in California
Santa Cruz County’s public schools are set to see enrollment drop by more than 21% over the next decade, the steepest decline of any county in California, according to recent figures from the state. The dramatic projections are escalating concerns among education leaders across the county. Officials from at least one local district say they may have to start discussing whether or not to close schools.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County storm update: Risk of high tides and huge swells remain despite overnight reprieve
Santa Cruz County was spared major damage from overnight rains, though coastal communities remained under threat from waves as high as 40 feet Saturday morning. With tides set to peak around noon, local officials urged residents and visitors to steer clear of the coast.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Watsonville Community Hospital looks to stabilize finances with plans for $116M bond
Since the Pajaro Valley Health Care District took ownership of Watsonville Community Hospital in September 2022, it has significantly reduced losses. New CEO Stephen Gray says adding new services, upgrading equipment and $116 million from a potential bond will continue pushing the hospital onto a sustainable path.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: Watsonville Transit Center, Highway 9, and this week’s delays
Last week, Santa Cruz Metro received another round of funding, this time for its South County project aiming to revamp the Watsonville Transit Center, and build 65 units of affordable housing above it. Up in the mountains, Highway 9 repairs continue nearly a year after the storms at the beginning of 2023.
Posted inK-12 Education
State approves Pajaro Middle School reconstruction plans for flood damage
With the state’s approval of renovation plans for Pajaro Middle School, district officials say they’re confident the school will reopen in fall 2024. About 450 Pajaro Middle School students were relocated to nearby schools after the levee breach damaged their campus in March.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Former Watsonville Community Hospital owners siphoned $4 million for personal use, bankruptcy trustee alleges
In a lawsuit filed this month, the trustee managing the bankruptcy of the former owners of Watsonville Community Hospital alleges that three of the hospital’s previous executives transferred nearly $4 million in consulting and management fees, travel and living expenses and other illegitimate payments from the hospital to themselves and close associates.
Posted inBusiness & Technology, Watsonville / Pajaro
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Watsonville packaging company marks 100 years, another delay for crab fishermen
In this week’s Santa Cruz County business roundup, Jessica M. Pasko traces the history of Watsonville’s Sambrailo Packaging, has word of another delay for commercial crabbers and charts comings and goings in local biz.