Headlines to know from around Santa Cruz County politics & policy, plus a look at what’s on local agendas this week and beyond.
Watsonville / Pajaro
Posted inEducation
PVUSD family, special education staff say proposed cuts will ‘devastate’ most vulnerable students
Parents and educators in Pajaro Valley Unified School District warn that proposed cuts to more than 40 special education positions will severely undermine services for the district’s most vulnerable students, who they say are already under-supported.
Posted inLatest News
Monday evening traffic: Construction incident, Hwy 1 NB at Buena Vista; ramp closures
Monday traffic trouble spots in and around Santa Cruz County.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: After major reversal on Coastal Rail Trail segments, what comes next?
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s decision to shift toward building three segments of the Coastal Rail Trail over the tracks means that the RTC and planners working on the project have their work cut out for them, both at the state level and with the other parties involved with the rail line.
Posted inEducation
County Office of Education brings computer science nights to Watsonville High, Santa Cruz MAH
Computer Science Education Week Community Nights are open to K-12 students, parents and community members to explore hands-on activities that showcase opportunities within the computer science field.
Posted inLatest News
Damage to several ‘tiny village’ units sets back opening of Watsonville homeless shelter by a few weeks
Damage to several of the “tiny homes” under construction at an outdoor shelter in Watsonville has delayed its opening. Monterey County officials say they still hope to move unhoused residents in this month.
Posted inEducation
Watsonville High student named semifinalist for Coca-Cola Scholars Program
Azucena Sandoval, a senior at Watsonville High School, has been named a semifinalist for the 2026 Coca-Cola Scholars Program, placing her in the top 1% of 107,000 applicants nationwide.
Posted inLatest News
Forecast is for triple threat this week: King tides, big waves and wind
The National Weather Service has issued warnings for coastal flooding, high surf and powerful offshore winds affecting Santa Cruz County this week.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Demolition, relocation eyed for Catalyst; Westside revitalization story; new wine district moves forward
A Silicon Valley developer has proposed demolishing the historic downtown Santa Cruz home of The Catalyst nightclub and erecting a new seven-story, mixed-use building, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly survey of local business. She’s also got news from the Westside, on the local wine industry and more.
Posted inLatest News
Independent study reveals heavy metals near Elkhorn Slough after Moss Landing fire
A study from researchers at San Jose State University’s Moss Landing Marine Laboratories estimates that nearly 55,000 pounds of heavy metals were dumped into soil near Elkhorn Slough following January’s Moss Landing battery fire. It’s the first independent study of the fire’s impacts published in a scientific journal.