A Watsonville teen will be one of seven organ transplant recipients to be honored in the Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year’s Day by an organ procurement nonprofit, Donor Network West. The 18-year-old, along with several organ transplant recipients from Northern California and Nevada, will ride on the “Donate Life Float,” which highlights the […]
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Posted inLatest News
Watsonville taps a 27-year department veteran to head the city’s firefighting and emergency medicine operations
The City of Watsonville has chosen Corey Schaefer, a 27-year fire department veteran, as its next chief, following the retirement of Rudy López who had been at the helm since 2019. Schaefer was first hired by the department in 1998 as a reserve firefighter. He rose through the ranks, serving as a firefighter, fire captain, […]
Posted inEducation
Newsmakers 2025: Watsonville activist reflects on monthlong hunger strike against pesticides
Watsonville activist Omar Dieguez discusses the impact of his monthlong hunger strike against pesticide applications near schools in the Pajaro Valley and also shares more details on his work to empower youth in his community.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsmakers 2025: Food and toiletries distributions for undocumented ag workers become offseason lifeline
As the Pajaro Valley’s growing season comes to a close, many of its workers turn to a monthly food distribution event hosted by the Center for Farmworker Families to alleviate the financial burdens that come with no work for a few months.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘This is the Super Bowl’: Consultant hired by county says Trump’s offshore drilling plans will test local ordinances
Richard Charter has been here before: In the 1980s, he was hired to organize an effort to block oil drilling off the coast of California. Now, with the Trump administration wanting to open the coast for drilling, he’s been hired to fight again by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.
Posted inLatest News
Judge schedules Leif Ames murder trial for April 2026
A Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge has scheduled the murder trial of Leif Ames for April 6, 2026, six years after he was charged with fatally stabbing his best friend, Hubert Cross, in his Live Oak home.
Posted inHousing & Development
Supervisors order review of 57-unit Capitola Road project
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will review the application for a 57-unit housing project led by local developer Workbench that used a state provision that allowed the project to override local jurisdiction.
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Wind, more rain coming to Santa Cruz County; stronger storm could be brewing next week
The National Weather Service is forecasting more rain for Santa Cruz County this week as an atmospheric river that had pounded the Pacific Northwest shifts south. There’s uncertainty in next week’s forecast, but a system could bring up to 6 inches of rain Sunday through Tuesday.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville Fire Chief Rudy López announces retirement after 35 years of service
After nearly 35 years of service, the fire chief who led evacuations in Watsonville during the 2023 floods announced his retirement Tuesday morning. Rudy López’s last day will be Dec. 31.
Posted inLatest News
After three-week dry spell, rain is coming to Santa Cruz County
The National Weather Service is forecasting three separate weather systems — weak storms — to hit Santa Cruz County this week.