Hidden Fortress Coffee owner Amelia Loftus has had to reduce hours of operation at her Watsonville-based cafe and satellite locations including Cabrillo College as she continues looking for staff.
COVID South County
Posted inCoast Life
‘Should’ve done more’: Could a former soccer star have been saved? Family grieves, community wonders
Edward “Lalo” Murillo-Jimenez dreamed the kind of dream many soccer-loving kids growing up in Watsonville do. But when the dream fizzled at San Jose State, Murillo-Jimenez went into a life spiral he could never quite shake. Last week he was found dead below the cliffs at New Brighton State Beach at age 32.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsom promises additional $600 stimulus checks for Californians, $1,100 for families
Under the governor’s proposal, which still requires approval from the Legislature, households earning up to $75,000 in adjusted gross income will be able to receive the second round of stimulus payments. The expanded program would provide financial assistance to two-thirds of Californians.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Watsonville Community Hospital suffered financial losses, ‘could have been in trouble’
SPECIAL REPORT: The company that bought Watsonville Community Hospital in 2019 abruptly stopped managing it last month….
Posted inVaccine Watch
‘Very disappointed’: Watsonville, rest of Santa Cruz County left out of California’s vaccine equity plan
The issue is that the state’s “Healthy Places Index” is calculated using census tracts — but the vaccine allocation is being done based on ZIP codes, which are much larger.
Posted inCOVID Today
California changes reopening criteria again and allots 40% of vaccine to poorer areas
Under the new system, business reopening rules appear to be eased. And California will earmark 40% of its COVID-19 vaccine doses for low-income communities spread out across 400 of the state’s ZIP codes.
Posted inHousing & Development
Watsonville council approves two new apartment complexes, each with 50 or more units
The projects at 558 Main St. and 1482 Freedom Blvd. are in different neighborhoods and appeal to a variety of income levels. They’re also sparking discussions about Watsonville’s larger housing policies overall.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Newsom, lawmakers agree to $600 stimulus checks plus boost for undocumented workers
As Congress debates President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package, Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers announce their own stimulus package, calling for $600 one-time payments to millions of struggling Californians and extra help for undocumented workers left out of federal relief.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
‘Devastated’ Watsonville looks to create monument honoring lives lost to COVID-19
Who were Miri Villalobos and Santiago Tehandon? Two members of a Watsonville community that has absorbed 45% of Santa…
Posted inPandemic Life
Yale student learning from Watsonville home reflects on inequities as parents work in fields
New Leaf Community Markets brand manager Lindsay Gizdich said the store is moving from Pacific Avenue in order to have…