Santa Cruz County launches year-round Mobile Crisis Response Teams
Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health has announced that Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT) are now available 24/7 year-round to respond to behavioral health crises for youth and adults across Santa Cruz County, including the cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola and all...
5 injured in Scotts Valley’s first tornado on record
*Updated at 6:59pm Dec. 14, 2024
At least five people were injured in Scotts Valley's first-ever tornado on record, authorities said.
Capt. Jayson Rutherford, of the Scotts Valley Police Department, said six cars were overturned and another 10 or so were damaged by the twister.
"Looking at...
3 hospitalized in Brookdale post office building blaze
A man and two children were hospitalized after a fire spread through a second story residential area above the Brookdale Post Office in the early hours of Friday the 13th.
Jon Bowles, 52, said he was in his downstairs unit when he heard a rumbling...
Invasive beetle found along Zayante Creek identified as novel to West Coast
A non-native invasive shothole borer beetle found along Zayante Creek south of Graham Hill Road in October has been identified as Euwallacea interjectus, a beetle originating from Southeast Asia.
Prior U.S.-based identifications of Euwallacea interjectus have been restricted to states in the Southeastern part of...
Scotts Valley Unified School District’s financial review shows surprise revenue gains
Back when Scotts Valley Unified School District officials were charting a course for the 2023-24 school year, they figured they’d bring in $26.2 million in revenue and spend $21.3 million.
But when their financial minds recently broke down what actually happened, they discovered inflows had...
Man charged with trafficking minors asks to spend holidays with 4-year-old
The man charged with human trafficking and molesting children he met through the Boys and Girls Club in Scotts Valley asked a Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge if he could spend time over the holidays with his 4-year-old nephew.
But, according to a minute...
Santa Cruz County awarded $8M grant for mental health, substance use services
The County of Santa Cruz has received an $8 million grant from the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Proposition 47 Grant Program to enhance mental health, substance use disorder and diversion services for individuals involved in the criminal justice system.
Under the...
News Briefs | Published Dec. 6, 2024
5th annual Holiday Lights brings sparkle to fairgrounds
The fifth annual Holiday Lights event has returned to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, and it’s bigger and brighter than ever. It features light displays including a 30-foot sea serpent, huge rooster, lighted tractors with turning wheels,...
Scotts Valley Council eases ADU rules, expands junior unit options
They didn’t exactly have a choice in the matter, but when it came down to updating their secondary residence policy, Scotts Valley City Council opted to allow larger accessory dwelling units (ADUs) than required to incentivize building these further away from the property line...
Cabrillo College receives $150K to expand veterans mental health services
Cabrillo College has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office to implement the Veterans Mental Health Demonstration Project. The two-year grant is one of 10 awarded to community colleges statewide for the project term starting November 2024 through November...
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground reopening delayed
California State Parks has announced the delayed reopening of the seasonal campground at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, now scheduled for Aug. 1, instead...
