Local News

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors has voted to establish a Third-party Plan Check (TPC) program that will give permit seekers the option to get their plans reviewed primarily by a consultant they hire, rather than county staff. The program, proposed by Supervisors Manu Koenig...

The County of Santa Cruz Department of Community Development and Infrastructure has announced that the 2023 Pavement Management Project is continuing.  Local roads listed below are scheduled for roadside clearing and dig-out from Monday, July 10, through Friday, July 21: Felton: Cooper Street, Clearview Place, Blair...

Even though no fireworks displays were held in Santa Cruz County this Independence Day (well, not legal ones at least), a pair of North County events successfully rallied patriots. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office estimated 4,000 people attended the Boulder Creek parade, which started...

If a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, a caregiver support group can offer an opportunity to connect with others. In this facilitated support group, participants will connect with each other as they experience mindfulness practices designed to open the heart...

Temporary road closures announced for Boulder Creek 4th of July Parade The County of Santa Cruz Department of Community Development and Infrastructure has announced that Boulder Creek Business Association will be blocking vehicle access on a portion of Highway 9 between South Street and Highway...

Learning about the dangers of surveillance technology can be empowering, the Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury writes in the introduction to the new report they published June 20. Its latest 20-page look at spy tech and data collection at the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s...

Highway 9 at Jaye’s Slide in Ben Lomond reopened June 22 following installation of a culvert across the entire width of the roadway at an area that was damaged during winter storms. Jaye’s Slide is located on Highway 9 in Ben Lomond, near Park Way...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved nearly $10 million in relief for Santa Cruz County families affected by two natural disasters this year, as their Silicon Valley neighbors are just now being told they can apply too. FEMA has processed $3,539,828 worth of...

At its most recent regularly-scheduled meeting, Scotts Valley City Council heard from a consultant that it didn’t do so well on the pavement condition index (PCI), with more than a third of its roads rating “poor” or “failed.” Scotts Valley has 32.1 miles of paved...

When Fifth District Supervisor Bruce McPherson was growing up, he thought he might pursue medicine. But he was also drawn to the family business of journalism (his great-grandfather Duncan had purchased the Santa Cruz Sentinel in the 1800s). He chose to become a newspaperman. Now,...