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Watsonville Community Hospital nurses reassure immigrant patients after reported ICE sighting
By Tania Ortiz
Nurses at Watsonville Community Hospital held an emergency press conference Tuesday afternoon following reports of immigration agents patrolling the property. They say patients are still safe to seek services at the hospital.
Scenes from Midnight Maas: Bookshop Santa Cruz holds first midnight release party in 10 years
By Alia Yee Noll
About 300 fans packed into Bookshop Santa Cruz on Monday night for a sold-out midnight release party for Sarah J. Maas’ latest book, “A Court of Splintered Harmony.” There were tattoos, tarot readings and a DJ, and plenty of people showed up in costume.
Lily Belli on Food: Latest on Silver Spur’s move; Mane Kitchen & Cocktails turns 1; food-themed costume recs
By Lily Belli
Silver Spur’s co-owner fills Lily Belli in on the restaurant’s impending move to the former Jeffery’s, plus a martinis & blinis celebration in downtown Santa Cruz, new digs for Capitola’s Cork & Fork and plenty more in her Tuesday newsletter.
Santa Cruz County new car sales fall 15% as gas prices, interest rates squeeze buyers
By Dieter Holger
New car sales in Santa Cruz County dropped more than 15% in the first nine months of 2026. Between steep prices, expensive loans and pricey gas, a lot of people are just keeping the cars they have. Dealers say used cars and hybrids are still selling, but stricter auto lending is shutting some buyers out.
OPINION: Watsonville Community Hospital’s maternity care is a regional responsibility – we can’t let it close
By Gail Newel, David Ghilarducci and Dori Rose Inda
Watsonville Community Hospital loses about $27,000 a day providing labor and delivery services, raising questions about whether it can sustain the unit without jeopardizing its finances. Closing it would force families to travel farther for care and shift pressure to other hospitals, write Gail Newel, David Ghilarducci and Dori Rose Inda, all of whom have held healthcare leadership roles in Santa Cruz County. The authors call on regional healthcare providers, insurers and public agencies to share the costs of preserving maternity care, arguing that Watsonville cannot wait for a statewide solution. The Pajaro Valley Health Care District board is slated to vote Wednesday afternoon on the fate of the services.
Watsonville farmworker families find food, clothing and support at monthly donation drive
By Elizabeth Myong
A monthly donation drive in Watsonville gives farmworker families access to food, clothing, diapers, toys and Halloween costumes as they navigate rising housing costs and other economic hardships. Volunteers say the effort is about more than material goods: It’s also a way to show families that their community cares.
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- Enterprise Project Manager II (Temporary) at Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance)
- Development Associate at Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
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