Local News

Volunteers needed for Olympia Watershed stewardship San Lorenzo Valley Water District is seeking volunteers to help with land management at its Olympia Watershed property. Volunteers will assist with removing nonnative plants, such as French broom, and learn about the unique plants and animals that inhabit the...

California Highway Patrol (CHP) Santa Cruz Area has reported a 32% reduction in electric bicycle (e-bike) related crashes within its jurisdiction in Santa Cruz County following the launch of Operation Safe Pedal (OSP). In 2024, CHP investigated 53 e-bike crashes, which included a fatality in...

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors has selected District 5 Supervisor Monica Martinez to serve as board chair for 2026. Martinez—the first openly LGBTQ+ and Latina person to serve as chair—was chosen by her colleagues following a first year focused on protecting essential services, supporting...

Travelers on Highway 17 north of Scotts Valley will continue to encounter a reduction to one lane of travel in each direction on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 2-3, starting at 8pm. Travelers on northbound Highway 17 will cross over and travel in the southbound direction of...

Scotts Valley City Council’s Jan. 21 meeting made some serious progress on the Town Center development—essentially doing some of the housekeeping items needed to move the project forward.  Before getting started, Councilmember Greg Wimp recused himself since the Town Center development could indirectly affect his...

Libraries announce schedule changes, extended service hours Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL) has announced system schedule changes and extended hours at selected branches starting on Sunday, Feb. 1. Several branches within the system will have extended hours. Capitola and Felton branch libraries will join the Downtown...

Travelers will continue to encounter one-way traffic control in both directions of Highway 9 for the installation of devices designed to keep birds from nesting within structures. Work will continue Saturday, Jan. 31, Monday, Feb. 2, and Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 7am-4pm near Boulder Creek...

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 authorized the creation of an ad hoc subcommittee aimed at preparing the county for potential impacts from increased federal immigration enforcement. The subcommittee, known as S.H.I.E.L.D.—Safeguarding Health, Inclusion, Essential Services and Local Defense—will be made up...

A 60-year-old Moss Landing man was killed in a crash on southbound State Route 17, authorities said. California Highway Patrol officers responded at about 3:35pm on Jan. 26 to a report of a crash on southbound Highway 17 south of Vine Hill Road. Investigators determined...

At a Special Meeting held on Jan. 16 in the middle of the day, Scotts Valley City Council voted unanimously to declare a State of Emergency to deal with a 30-foot-by-30-foot sinkhole that had opened up at Scotts Valley Drive and Granite Creek Road. On...