Santa Cruz County

California inmate who admitted 13 murders dies natural death

A California inmate who confessed to killing 13 people in a matter of months during the early 1970s has died of natural causes at age 75, state prison officials said Friday. Herbert W. Mullin’s victims ranged in age from 4 to 73 and included a priest he killed in a confessional booth.

August 20, 2022 7:14am PDT

3 people, 1 dog die after planes crash in Watsonville

Three people and one dog died in a collision between two planes that were attempting to land at Watsonville Municipal Airport on Thursday, authorities said on Friday.

August 19, 2022 5:10pm PDT

Capitola lifeguard saves pilot who crashed plane into ocean

A young Capitola lifeguard is being credited for saving a pilot who crashed into the ocean on July 22. Dane Morin sprung into action in Huntington Beach on that day.

August 9, 2022 2:04pm PDT

Big Basin State Park partially reopens after wildfire destruction nearly 2 years ago

Big Basin State Park in Santa Cruz County will partially reopen Friday, almost two years since wildfires roared through the Boulder Creek park.

July 22, 2022 5:35am PDT

Former U.S. Air Force sergeant-turned extremist pleads guilty to murder of sheriff's sergeant

A former U.S. Air Force sergeant-turned extremist has pleaded guilty in the murder of a Santa Cruz County sheriff's sergeant.

June 27, 2022 8:25pm PDT

Two Scotts Valley brothers save woman from fiery crash along Highway 17

Two Scotts Valley brothers said Monday they were returning home from Sacramento early Sunday morning, when they noticed a driver weaving erratically.

June 27, 2022 6:01pm PDT

Ex-Air Force sergeant who killed security guard outside Oakland courthouse sentenced to 41 years

A judge on Friday sentenced a former U.S. Air Force sergeant to 41 years in federal prison for fatally shooting a security guard outside the Oakland federal courthouse during George Floyd protests two summers ago.

June 3, 2022 5:25pm PDT

Fern Fire limited to small burn in Santa Cruz County

The Fern Fire was contained to 1.5 acres burned near Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County after breaking out Monday, Cal Fire said.

May 30, 2022 10:38pm PDT

Aptos park named for slain Santa Cruz County sheriff's sergeant

Willowbrook County Park in Aptos will now bear the name of slain Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller.

May 26, 2022 5:46am PDT

Crazy sight! Raccoon gets stuck face-first in Santa Cruz roof

Animal rescuers in Santa Cruz helped rescue a raccoon stuck face-first in a roof.

May 24, 2022 6:36am PDT

Starbucks stores in Santa Cruz first to unionize in California

The Starbucks locations on Mission and Ocean Streets in Santa Cruz will now join Starbucks Workers United, the national union for Starbucks workers.

May 11, 2022 10:38pm PDT

Santa Cruz man arrested on suspicion of soliciting sex from minors via Instragram

Police in Santa Cruz said they arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of soliciting sex with children via social media.

May 10, 2022 10:42am PDT

Couple arrested after dog fight leads to suspected hate crime

The Santa Cruz Police Department is investigating an assault of a man walking his dog Saturday as a hate crime.

April 24, 2022 3:11pm PDT

Starbucks employees alert police of armed man, leading to drugs and weapons arrest, investigators say

The quick action of some very alert employees at a Starbucks in Scotts Valley led to the recovery of illegal firearms, drugs and an arrest of a parolee, police said.

March 22, 2022 11:35am PDT

Ex-Air Force sergeant to plead guilty in killing of federal security officer in Oakland

Court records show Steven Carrillo, 33, will plead guilty in the killing of David Patrick Underwood, who was shot on May 29, 2020, while he stood in a guard shack in front of a federal building in Oakland.

February 8, 2022 7:21am PST

Tsunami waves cause dangerous surf and flooding in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz was hit hard after waves crashed the coast during Saturday's tsunami advisory.

January 17, 2022 1:42pm PST

Marin, Santa Cruz may relax water restrictions

It's been almost a month since the Bay Area's last atmospheric river and the hope is there will be more rain in the coming weeks, so water restrictions can be eased.

January 10, 2022 6:09pm PST