Santa Cruz County Archives

PG&E is holding a public meeting to discuss concerns over outages and other items

November 7, 2024 4:22 PM Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) is holding a public meeting Thursday evening for people living…

Measure Q passes in Santa Cruz County, what it is

November 7, 2024 12:53 PM Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — Voters in Santa Cruz passed Measure Q this week, which helps support the County’s approach to water and wildfire…

Former Santa Cruz minister arrested for alleged sexual acts with a minor

November 6, 2024 4:04 PM Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that they have arrested 71-year-old Oscar Rodriguez…

2024 local race winners; Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties

November 5, 2024 9:10 PM Jeanette Bent

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV) — Stay up to date with the 2024 local races along the Central Coast. We will continue to update the projected…

Santa Cruz County heads to the polls Tuesday for a few local issues

November 5, 2024 10:05 PM Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — KION sent three reporters to cover the three local counties on election night, 2024. Briana Mathaw reported…

A voter casts ballot during the early voting process at a polling station ahead of the upcoming 2024 presidential election on October 27

Central Coast polling places open for voters until 8 p.m.

November 5, 2024 7:20 AM Austin Castro

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) Polling places across Monterey County, Santa Cruz County, and San Benito County officially opened for voters on…

Some Central Fire District addresses missing Measure R on ballot, Santa Cruz County elections office says

November 3, 2024 1:38 PM Victor Guzman

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Santa Cruz County Elections Office says around 124 addresses were missing Central Fire District of Santa…

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PG&E warns of potential Public Safety Power Shutoffs in Santa Cruz County

November 4, 2024 10:29 AM Austin Castro

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) – PG&E is warning of potential Public Safety Power Shutoffs, or PSPS, for areas in the Santa Cruz Mountains…

Body discovered on Davenport beach identified; Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office

October 28, 2024 11:02 AM Jeanette Bent

DAVENPORT, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Monday that they were called out around 8:20 a.m. for reports of a…

The candidates for Santa Cruz County Board Of Supervisors District 2, how they plan on tackling the county’s issues

November 1, 2024 8:42 PM Briana Mathaw

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Focusing on the the candidates for Santa Cruz County Board Of Supervisors District 2. This competitive race…

Central Coast counties describe financial frustration over pending FEMA disaster reimbursements

November 1, 2024 7:21 AM Austin Castro

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV) – In March 2023, the Pajaro levee was breached during winter storms, causing devastation to the surrounding…

Concerns are growing over the future of the Pacific Cultural center in Santa Cruz

October 30, 2024 10:51 AM Briana Mathaw

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Concerns are growing over the future of the pacific cultural center in Santa Cruz as school officials…

BeMindful: Political anxiety and stress during the 2024 election season

October 30, 2024 6:10 PM Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — According to the American Psychological Association (APA), election stress–especially in 2024–is a very real thing.…

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Percentage of ballots counted for Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties so far

October 29, 2024 12:22 PM Jeanette Bent

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV) — With election day approaching next week, many polls and offices across the Central Coast are receiving their 2024…

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In nationwide first, California plans to rev up sales of electric motorcycles

October 28, 2024 8:41 AM Associated Press

CalMatters At New Century Motorcycles in Alhambra, a handful of electric motorcycles are relegated to the back of the store, tucked behind the dirt…

Monterey sheriffs crack down on sex offenders ahead of Halloween; Monterey County Sheriff’s Office

October 28, 2024 11:32 AM Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office announced that they conducted compliance checks for convicted sex offenders…

Forward progress stopped for Summit Fire burning along Highway 17 near Summit Road

October 26, 2024 7:38 PM Dann Cianca

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — CAL FIRE CZU says forward progress has been stopped on a wildfire that sparked along Highway 17 near Summit…

Santa Cruz County welcomes first-ever female Chief of Police; City of Capitola

October 25, 2024 3:03 PM Jeanette Bent

CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION-TV) — The City of Capitola announced Thursday that they’ve chosen Captain Sarah Ryan as the city’s new Chief of Police. They…

An influx of anchovies lead to a mass die off impacting boats at the Santa Cruz Harbor

October 24, 2024 3:53 PM Briana Mathaw

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — An influx of anchovies led to a mass die-off in Santa Cruz Harbor over the weekend. The smell of the dead…

City of Watsonville approves affordable housing from Habitat for Humanity

October 24, 2024 2:09 PM Jeanette Bent

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) — The City of Watsonville unanimously approved an affordable housing project proposed by Habitat for Humanity Tuesday…

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Capitola City Council to address 2024-2025 winter storms at Thursday’s meeting

October 24, 2024 1:37 PM Jeanette Bent

CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Capitola City Council will be receiving a weather report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration…

Critical repairs nearing completion for West Cliff ahead of Winter

October 9, 2024 7:11 PM Briana Mathaw

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — A major construction update for West Cliff residents. The city invited the media to tour the ongoing repair…

Overturned delivery truck forces closure along Highway 129 at Carlton Road

October 23, 2024 6:34 PM Victor Guzman

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — CHP Santa Cruz says Eastbound 129 at Carlton Road is closed due to an overturned delivery truck. The CHP said…

Demolition continues at the Dolphin Restaurant

October 23, 2024 7:28 PM Briana Mathaw

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The city of Santa Cruz gave KION a behind the scenes look at crucial structural repairs underway at the Santa…

City staff are proposing a new downtown density bonus in return to provide a larger number of below-market-rate units

October 22, 2024 10:58 AM Briana Mathaw

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Santa Cruz City Council discussed the downtown plan expansion that aims to transform a 29-acre…

PG&E partners up with California 211 to assist people during an emergency

October 23, 2024 2:35 PM Jeanette Bent

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — PG&E announced Wednesday that the company is partnering up with California 211 to alert customers in its…

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Cabrillo ranked best community college in California

October 23, 2024 5:59 PM Jeanette Bent

APTOS, Calif. (KION-TV) — Cabrillo College announced Wednesday that they’ve been named the best community college in California. According to a…

Watsonville animal shelter closed temporarily due to animal illness; Santa Cruz County

October 23, 2024 5:26 PM Jeanette Bent

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter announced that it will be temporarily shuttering its Watsonville location due…

One person arrested for DUI after crash backs up Highway 1; CHP

October 23, 2024 10:06 AM Sergio Berrueta

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – An early morning crash leads to a DUI arrest of the driver on Highway 1 near Freedom Boulevard on Wednesday, according to the…

Prescribed burn happening Tuesday through Thursday in Paicines

October 22, 2024 2:20 PM Jeanette Bent

PAICINES, Calif. (KION-TV) — CAL FIRE BEU announced Monday that it will be holding prescribed burns in San Benito County if the weather permits.…

Watsonville City Council to discuss Cannabis Equity Program Tuesday

October 22, 2024 3:55 PM Jeanette Bent

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) — Watsonville City Council will be voting on a number of agenda items Tuesday afternoon. One of these items may be a…

Driver identified in deadly Highway 9 crash Thursday; CHP Santa Cruz

October 22, 2024 12:40 PM Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — CHP Santa Cruz released the identification of a man who was driving a black 2014 Mazda 3 on southbound State Route 9…

Flying air taxis move closer to US takeoff with issuing of FAA rule

October 22, 2024 11:19 AM Associated Press

Federal regulators gave a strong push to electric-powered air taxis Wednesday by issuing a final rule for operating the aircraft and how pilots will…

WATCH: Multiple agencies stop forward progress of Buena Fire near Watsonville

October 21, 2024 1:21 PM Victor Guzman

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office says forward progress has been stopped on the Buena Fire burning near…

Public safety power shutoffs and their impact on Santa Cruz County residents

October 18, 2024 10:43 AM Briana Mathaw

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — Santa Cruz County residents have been issued a red flag warning as PG&E’s public safety power shutoff is…

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Increased safety measures planned for downtown Santa Cruz during Halloween

October 18, 2024 11:49 AM Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — The City of Santa Cruz announced Friday that it will be instantiating a Safety Enhancement Zone downtown Santa Cruz…

PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) currently in Santa Cruz County

October 16, 2024 6:25 PM Jeanette Bent

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV) — PG&E announced Wednesday that Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties may see power shutoffs…

Garbage truck fire shuts down right lane of Highway 17 Thursday

October 17, 2024 11:16 AM Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — Scotts Valley Fire confirmed Thursday that a truck that had caught fire on northbound Highway 17 near Sugarloaf Road…

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Davenport firefighter reflects on the 35th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake

October 17, 2024 7:25 PM Briana Mathaw

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — On this day decades ago, the deadly Loma Prieta earthquake rocked Santa Cruz County and the Bay Area. The…

35 years later: the Loma Prieta Earthquake’s devastating impact on Santa Cruz

October 17, 2024 5:17 PM Jeanette Bent, Scott Rates

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — At 5:04 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 1989, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake rattled along the Loma Prieta fault line in…

BCycle docks appear empty and with caution tape in Santa Cruz County

October 16, 2024 10:45 AM Briana Mathaw

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — A troubling development for BCycle riders in Santa Cruz. Significant theft and vandalism having to do with…

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Prescribed burn Tuesday near Eagle Rock in the Santa Cruz Mountains

October 15, 2024 3:22 PM Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — CAL FIRE CZU said they were performing prescribed burns in the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Boulder Creek on Tuesday.…

Watsonville man killed in Highway 1 crash identified, sheriff’s office says

October 14, 2024 9:54 AM Austin Castro

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY (KION-TV) – A 44-year-old Watsonville man who was killed in a late-night crash Sunday on Highway 1 north of Buena Vista Drive has…

Capitola deadly hit and run suspect sentencing rescheduled

November 23, 2023 10:30 AM Dania Romero, Derrick Ow, Victor Guzman

CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION-TV) — The suspect from a deadly crash that took place on December 1, 2023 in Capitola, plead no contest in court Friday in…

Santa Cruz County vehicle pursuit ends in arrest

October 12, 2024 6:56 PM Victor Guzman

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Capitola police said one person was arrested after a chase through Santa Cruz County involving multiple…

Northern Lights visible from parts of the Central Coast

October 10, 2024 9:17 PM Victor Guzman

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV) — Some people living on the Central Coast were treated to a light show as the northern lights were visible for some…

Santa Cruz County releases its 2024 Community Health Assessment Plan

October 10, 2024 2:27 PM Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Santa Cruz County released its 2024 Community Health Assessment (CHA) that will layout county goals over the…

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Santa Cruz County launches new website for the public to see its prescribed burn schedule

October 10, 2024 3:18 PM Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience (OR3) announced Thursday that it’s launching a…

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Santa Cruz County beetle infestation in north county

October 9, 2024 5:47 PM Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The county’s agriculture department announced Wednesday that there is an infestation of an invasive beetle…

Watsonville adopts an ordinance to protect people living in mobile homes

September 3, 2024 11:08 AM Briana Mathaw

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) — The City of Watsonville reported an adoption regarding an ordinance to protect people living in mobile home parks…