Local News

Over the past year, the financial world has been playing the big guessing game of what will happen to interest rates as authorities seek to calm inflation without causing too much pain. School officials had been zoned-in for just such an exercise here in...

Burglaries nearly doubled in 2020—overall, crime fluctuated heavily during the pandemic, Scotts Valley Police Department Chief Steve Walpole, Jr. told the city council in his annual presentation. The numbers have dropped since, and thankfully, there are still no homicides to report. “I’ve been really impressed...

Kristopher Payopay has failed to evade attempted murder charges. He’s accused of shooting at California Highway Patrol officers in Scotts Valley with a machine gun during a pursuit. He was held to answer by Judge Hector Ramon for 10 crimes, plus enhancements, during a preliminary...

A rainbow flag was waving above Scotts Valley City Hall by 10:15am on June 2—it marked the culmination of a year of work on a ceremonial flag policy. Still, a surprise political tactic the previous night at the council meeting threatened to derail its...

Residents of the Redwoods on the River trailer park in Ben Lomond were told to flee as fire consumed a pair of mobile homes on June 1. The blaze sent toxic plumes of smoke into the canopy above. Sgt. Jason Dunn of the Santa...

A three-way race in the 28th State Assembly district had candidates swapping places throughout election night, with Gail Pellerin rising as more precincts reported in. While Los Gatos Rob Rennie had been in second place in early results, with Republican Liz Lawler leading the pack,...

Liz Lawler jumped out to an early lead over Rob Rennie in the 28th Assembly District race, according to election results released at 9pm June 7. Lawler, a Monte Sereno city councilmember who is the lone Republican in the race against three Democrats, garnered 31.3%...

The small outdoor pool at Siltanen Park will remain closed throughout the summer as renovations continue. Upgrades have been in the works for months, but when crews got to the site, they discovered things were worse than City staff had realized. Santa Cruz County’s Environmental Health...

San Lorenzo Valley High School junior Gianna Schwarzbach has always been an athlete. From the soccer pitch to the campus pool where she plays varsity water polo, Schwarzbach’s constitution is tough as nails. For those who know her, it is no surprise that this...

The end of the month seemed to approach faster than usual for Shirli McLaughlin. The 76-year-old Felton resident, a longtime Ben Lomond shopkeeper, was told her current rental was being sold. “It’s an important word, ‘home’—don’t you think?” she asked rhetorically, May 27. “That, and...