Local News

Maintenance crews will be performing emergency repairs to the guardrail in the median on Highway 17 near Scotts Valley on Monday, April 22. Travelers in both directions of Highway 17 near Crescent Drive will encounter a closure of the #1 (left) lane on Monday...

MBARD announces Spare the Air program Starting Nov. 3, the Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) will begin announcing wintertime Spare the Air alerts for the San Lorenzo Valley in Santa Cruz County. During a Spare the Air alert, MBARD will ask residents to choose an...

Volunteers of the global nonprofit Dr. Shri. Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan completed a conservation drive at Castle Rock State Park, located along Skyline Boulevard, on June 22. Efforts included removing Douglas fir saplings that officials said could promote the spread of flames during a wildfire. “This whole...

Scotts Valley Police Department conducted an undercover operation culminating in the arrest of 24-year-old Ciriaco Johnson of Santa Cruz County on charges of contacting a minor with intent to commit sexual offense, human trafficking and annoying/molesting a victim under age 18.  Johnson served as a...

San Lorenzo Valley Water District staff will begin flushing water mains in the San Lorenzo Valley in March, part of regular system maintenance. Annually flushing the system removes iron and manganese deposits that accumulate in the water distribution system, leading to cleaner pipes and ensuring...

Annual Holiday Gift Shop opens Nov. 1 The Annual Holiday Gift Shop at Valley Churches United in Ben Lomond opens Nov. 1. The gift shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10am-4pm.  Amazingly talented volunteers have created an exquisite display, making this year’s gift shop an...

Board approves sales tax measure for March ballot Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Dec. 5 to place a half-cent sales tax measure on the 2024 March primary ballot. At 9%, sales tax in the unincorporated area is currently tied for the lowest among...

Nonprofit CEO Monica Martinez has dominated in her race against three others in the Santa Cruz County Fifth District primary election, capturing more than 46% of the vote, with software company founder Christopher Bradford getting 21.5%. That’s according to results released March 15 by the...

FEMA reimburses Santa Cruz County nearly $18M for Covid-related expenditures Reps. Jimmy Panetta and Zoe Lofgren helped secure federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to reimburse Santa Cruz County more than $17.7 million for emergency health and safety expenditures incurred as a...

Prescribed burn continues at Big Basin State Park California State Parks and allied agencies, including Cal Fire, began a prescribed burn on April 24 in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The 30-acre burn is occurring in the northern end of the park near Johansen and China...