Monarch butterflies return in greater numbers to California's Central Coast
Upwards of 2,500 monarch butterflies are resting and bracing for winter along a protected area of California's Central Coast in Santa Cruz.
Indoor masking returns to Santa Cruz County ahead of holidays
Santa Cruz County Health officials say COVID-19 cases have bumped up to roughly 27 a day, a 29% increase in two weeks, and if history repeats, cases will also rise after Thanksgiving.
Convicted sex offender to be released after serving time, community outraged
Neighbors in Bonny Doon are outraged over the placement of a convicted sex offender who did his time. On Monday, a Santa Cruz County judge ruled to allow him to reside in a home in a remote area of Bonny Doon on Wild Iris Lane.
Santa Cruz police arrest man suspected of stealing bike from 10-year-old girl
Police arrested a 34-year-old man, a day after he was suspected of stealing a bicycle in Santa Cruz from a 10-year-old girl.
Cal Fire lifts burn ban for San Mateo, Santa Cruz counties due to significant rain
One of the positive side effects of this weekend's torrential rain, is the lifting of a ban on burning in both San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties.
Rain clears, Santa Cruz evacuees trying to head home
In the Santa Cruz Mountains, clearing skies overhead did not extend all the way to the ground. The remnants of the rain made it difficult for people who had to evacuate to return home.
Astounding rainfall measurements make storm one of Bay Area's biggest ever
The atmospheric river soaked the Bay Area with incredible amounts of rainfall over the weekend, making it one of the biggest on record.
Despite Santa Cruz County evacuation order, many remain in mountains
In the Santa Cruz Mountains, concerns over debris flows in the burn scar areas prompted an evacuation order affecting thousands. Yet many people are not heeding the warning.
CHP patrol vehicle, other car have windows shattered mysteriously
The California Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation Saturday evening after one of its CHP patrol vehicles had its back window shattered as an officer responded to a report of a Highway 17 motorist whose car window had been shattered as well.
Lanes reopen on Highway 17 in Santa Cruz County
The California Highway Patrol has reopened both directions of Highway 17 from Summit Road to Sugarloaf Road in Santa Cruz County following an earlier closure due to police activity.
Evacuation warnings issued due to debris flow for parts of Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County officials issued evacuation warnings for 21 zones due to concerns that burnt trees and debris stretching across swaths of the region from last year's CZU wildfire could give way during Sunday's big rainstorm to mudslides, debris flows and toppled trees.
Falling tree crushes driver to death in Felton
The driver of a pickup truck was killed early Friday afternoon by a tree that fell onto the cab of their vehicle in Felton.
Driver killed when tree falls on vehicle in Felton
A motorist in Felton died early Friday afternoon when a tree fell on their vehicle.
Santa Cruz County: Estrada Fire, sparked by prescribed burn, estimated to be 83 acres
The Estrada Fire, which sparked in south Santa Cruz County when a prescribed burn jumped its containment lines Friday, is now 25 percent contained and has burned 83 acres, Cal Fire said Saturday afternoon.
Santa Cruz County: Estrada Fire, sparked by prescribed burn, estimated to be 83 acres
The Estrada Fire, which sparked in south Santa Cruz County when a prescribed burn jumped its containment lines Friday, is now 25 percent contained and has burned 83 acres, Cal Fire said Saturday afternoon.
Cal Fire says prescribed burn caused rapidly-spreading Estrada Fire
A wildfire that quickly spread to 150 acres forcing evacuations near Morgan Hill Friday evening is the result of a prescribed burn, Cal Fire officials say.
2 vaccinated women die of COVID in Santa Cruz county
Santa Cruz county has reported its first two COVID deaths among vaccinated residents. Public health officials are urging the public to get vaccine booster shots if eligible.
Face masks no longer required indoors in most places in Santa Cruz County
Face masks are no longer required indoors in most places in Santa Cruz County.
Recovery effort underway for missing 17-year-old swimmer along Santa Cruz County coast
A desperate search and now recovery effort has been launched in Santa Cruz County for a teenage swimmer who went missing while body surfing off Laguna Creek Beach.
Resilient redwoods offer clues as to how trees survive wildfires in Big Basin
As California Highway 236 winds its way into Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz County, there are signs of a fire fight, lost to Mother Nature. Charred bark and downed trees abound. But there are also signs of a rematch that’s already underway.