Santa Cruz Archives

CHP Santa Cruz officer injured in rear-end crash on Highway 17

December 18, 2023 11:26 AM Derrick Ow

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV)- A CHP Santa Cruz Officer has been released from a local hospital after he was involved in a two-vehicle crash on…

Man accused of assaulting Los Gatos Police Officer arrested in Santa Cruz

December 11, 2023 1:45 PM Victor Guzman

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office confirms a person wanted for assaulting a Los Gatos Police Officer has been…

Vandenburg Space Force Base launches missile defense test

December 11, 2023 8:16 AM Karl Cooke

CENTRAL COAST, CALIF. (KION-TV)- If you looked up at the sky before 7 AM and saw what looked like a comet, that was no comet. Vandenburg Space Force…

Fire at Midtown Community Center causes $250,000 in damage, according to Santa Cruz Fire

December 8, 2023 12:02 PM Dania Romero

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) – People at a community center used for multiple church services are counting their blessings after a fire broke out…

Santa Cruz City Council denies oversized vehicle ordinance appeal

November 30, 2023 11:21 AM Nataly Gutierrez, Briana Mathaw

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV): UPDATE ON MARCH 14, 2024 AT 10:58 AM- On Tuesday night, the Santa Cruz City Council declined an effort to oppose…

Overnight closures of Highway 9 set to take place on Monday

November 30, 2023 12:18 PM Derrick Ow

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV)- Caltrans said that there will be a overnight closure starting on Monday night at 8 p.m. Drivers will will…

Neighbors react to house fire that killed two pets in Santa Cruz

November 28, 2023 11:39 AM Nataly Gutierrez

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV): Two pets died in a house fire this past weekend in Santa Cruz. KION’s Nataly Gutierrez is checking to see if the family…

Two pets die in house fire in Santa Cruz, no civilian or firefighter injuries reported, firefighters say

November 26, 2023 12:08 PM Derrick Ow

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- The Santa Cruz Fire Department confirmed that two pets have died in a structure fire on Sunday morning. Santa Cruz Fire…

Dog died in intense cottage fire in Santa Cruz, one person hurt while trying to escape: Firefighters

November 25, 2023 1:44 PM Scott Rates

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- Early Friday morning the Santa Cruz Fire Department responded to a fierce structure fire at 127 Ocean Street.…

Suspect and victim identified in fight in Santa Cruz

November 18, 2023 1:44 PM Katie Nicora, Derrick Ow

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION)- Santa Cruz Police have identified the suspect and victim who were involved in a fight between two friends on Nov. 17.…

Rountree Detention Center inmates graduate from Building Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Program

November 13, 2023 1:06 PM Victor Guzman

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said two inmates graduated from the Building Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Program…

Santa Cruz County joining Operation Green Light, will illuminate county building

November 8, 2023 9:06 AM Karl Cooke

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CALIF. (KION-TV)- Santa Cruz County will be joining other counties across the country in U.S. for Operation Green Light by…

Captain found guilty of ‘seaman’s manslaughter’ in boat fire that killed 34 off California coast

November 6, 2023 5:11 PM Associated Press

By STEFANIE DAZIO Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — A scuba dive boat captain was convicted Monday of criminal negligence in the deaths of 34…

UC Santa Cruz region to receive $18.1 million for education to career pipelines

November 2, 2023 2:46 PM Ricardo Tovar

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- Governor Gavin Newsom announced that four California regions were selected to receive a part of $72.5 million to create…

Santa Cruz Police working to keep community safe during Halloween festivities

October 31, 2023 10:21 AM Ana Torrea

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- Halloween festivities are getting underway. Downtown Santa Cruz is expected to see a lot of foot traffic. On Tuesday…

Surfboard stealing outlaw Otter 841 is in fact a mother, USFWS confirms

September 8, 2023 6:05 PM Dania Romero, Ana Torrea

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) – It is official! Everyone’s favorite surfboard pirate has given birth to a pup, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service…

Santa Cruz approves downtown development plans

October 26, 2023 10:39 AM Nataly Gutierrez

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV): More housing units and a hotel in downtown Santa Cruz may soon be…

Rallies held in Santa Cruz County to show solidarity with Palestine

October 20, 2023 5:49 PM Nataly Gutierrez

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV)- Two rallies were held in Santa Cruz County to show solidarity with the people of Palestine. One in…

Body found in Santa Cruz over 40 years ago identified

October 20, 2023 11:34 AM KION546 News Team

SACRAMENTO — An important link between the California Department of Justice and a genealogy lab dedicated to law enforcement investigations helped…

Santa Cruz Police to implement safety enhancement zone for Halloween

October 19, 2023 1:18 PM Derrick Ow

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- On Thursday afternoon, Santa Cruz Police Department announced they will have a safety enhancement zone in the Downtown…

Rite Aid closing more than 150 stores nationwide including two stores on the Central Coast

October 18, 2023 11:30 AM Derrick Ow

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV)- On Wednesday, Rite Aid announced that they are planning to close 154 stores nationwide after they filed for…

Vallejo man and two juveniles arrested for alleged robbery in Santa Cruz

October 12, 2023 11:26 AM Derrick Ow

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office arrested three suspects who were involved in a robbery in Santa Cruz on…

Santa Cruz will use $1 million in federal funding to plant trees all over city

October 10, 2023 3:58 PM Derrick Ow

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- The City of Santa Cruz received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service to increase equitable access to trees…

UC Santa Cruz students react to war in Israel

October 9, 2023 7:10 PM Nataly Gutierrez

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV): The destruction that happened in Israel this past weekend caused by Hamas has some students at UC Santa Cruz feeling…

Two new rides to debut in 2024 at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

August 3, 2023 2:19 PM Ricardo Tovar

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- The warm California sun and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk are synonymous with one another and one of them just got much…

Santa Cruz METRO approves historic purchase of hydrogen fueled buses

September 29, 2023 6:50 AM Karl Cooke

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF. (KION-TV)- Santa Cruz METRO is moving forward with the purchase of hydrogen powered fuel buses. In total, Santa Cruz METRO will…

2nd Boogaloo member convicted of murdering Oakland security guard in 2020

September 27, 2023 9:03 AM FOX 35

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) – A member of the right-wing extremist group Boogaloo Boys has been convicted of murder and attempted murder…

Surfers riding waves despite high surf advisory, city officials tackle erosion concerns on West Cliff Drive

September 26, 2023 5:55 PM Dania Romero

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) – The waves can pose a threat to an already crumbling West Cliff Drive during a high surf advisory. On Tuesday, city…

Central Coast leaders and community members hold panel to end violence

September 24, 2023 6:21 PM Nataly Gutierrez

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV): Sept. 24 marks 30 years since the first Watsonville Peace and Unity March took place. Central Coast families who have…

Southern sea otter will retain its threatened status, says US Fish and Wildlife

September 22, 2023 4:59 PM Ricardo Tovar

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KION-TV)- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife announced that the southern otter will retain its threatened status under the Endangered…

Santa Cruz METRO agrees to purchase 57 zero-emission, fuel cell electric buses

September 22, 2023 3:33 PM Ricardo Tovar

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- On Thursday, Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District’s (METRO) Board of Directors unanimously voted to purchase 57…

Poor air quality continues in Santa Cruz

September 21, 2023 5:54 PM Nataly Gutierrez

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV): People woke up to another day of hazy skies, and the smell of smoke in Santa Cruz.…

Santa Cruz Police looking for suspect wanted for vandalizing BLM mural after repainting

July 31, 2023 7:36 AM Karl Cooke, Nataly Gutierrez

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 AT 4:40 PM- Almost two months after the Black Lives Matter mural was vandalized in front…

Santa Cruz named best coffee city in America: study

September 19, 2023 3:41 PM Ricardo Tovar

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- Santa Cruz has a certain aesthetic. The beachside city helped make famous the surfer aesthetic and is well known for…

Feds award $1 billion to combat extreme heat, including more than $4 million to Santa Cruz and Watsonville

September 19, 2023 4:23 PM Ricardo Tovar

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV)- California received about $103 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service to…

Immediate repairs required on the San Lorenzo River Levee after illegal planting and rock movement

September 15, 2023 11:45 AM Ricardo Tovar

SANTA, CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- The City of Santa Cruz said that a significant amount of rock that provides levee armoring and flood protection had…

Santa Cruz County recovery center set to reopen after $1.08 million contract

September 12, 2023 10:13 PM Austin Castro

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- A Santa Cruz recovery center will soon reopen its doors to help people facing drug and alcohol addictions. The Santa…

2 people injured from carbon monoxide leak at Santa Cruz hotel

September 11, 2023 10:33 AM Karl Cooke

via: Booking.com SANTA CRUZ, CALIF. (KION-TV)- The Santa Cruz Fire Department released information regarding a carbon monoxide leak that caused the…

Kaiser to pay $49 million to California for illegally dumping private medical records, medical waste

September 8, 2023 4:52 PM Associated Press

BY OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kaiser Permanente has agreed to pay $49 million as part of a settlement with California prosecutors who…

Anchovy alert: Swarms of silver-striped fish take over Santa Cruz coastline

September 8, 2023 9:23 AM FOX 35

Courtesy: Santa Cruz Harbor, pictured above: aerator system deployed at AA-Dock (May 2021) SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – Officials in Santa Cruz…

UC Santa Cruz and CSU Monterey Bay rank in Forbes’ list of top colleges in the country

September 6, 2023 11:15 AM Ricardo Tovar

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV)- Forbes has released their list of “America’s Top Colleges” for 2023. This list showcases the top 500 colleges in the…

Santa Cruz County hosting gun buyback event

September 6, 2023 11:38 AM Ricardo Tovar

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- The Santa Cruz County Chief’s Association will be hosting a gun buyback event on Saturday, Sept. 16. The event will be…

Cause of dive boat fire that killed 34 in 2019, including Santa Cruz County residents, revealed

September 1, 2022 12:27 PM Victor Guzman, Ricardo Tovar, The Associated Press

Almost three years after a deadly dive boat fire south of Santa Barbara claimed the lives of 34 people, the National Transportation Safety Board said…

Governor signs bill to expedite affordable housing projects in California

September 2, 2023 3:33 PM KION546 News Team

BY GABE AGCAOILI SACRAMENTO — Legislation aimed to help speed up development of affordable housing across California was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom…

Santa Cruz Senator’s bill to curb illegal water usage at unlicensed cannabis cultivation sites becomes law

September 2, 2023 2:33 PM Katie Nicora

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KION-TV)- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Santa Cruz Senator John Laird’s SB 756 into law on Friday, according to the governor’s office.…

Santa Cruz finalizing purchase of 57 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses

September 1, 2023 7:19 AM Karl Cooke

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF. (KION-TV)- Santa Cruz is looking to complete the purchase of 57 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses. To understand how important…

California investing more in affordable housing and more in cities like Santa Cruz

September 1, 2023 7:08 AM Karl Cooke

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF. (KION-TV)- California is investing millions of dollars into affordable housing and clean transportation, and Santa Cruz will be…

One person dead in solo car collision

August 21, 2023 7:49 AM Karl Cooke

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF. (KION-TV)- UPDATE AUGST 21, 2023 9:49 A.M.: More information on the fatal crash has been released by Santa Cruz CHP. According to…

Santa Cruz Police warns of heavy traffic congestion due to unsanctioned biking event

August 18, 2023 5:58 PM Victor Guzman

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — Santa Cruz Police is warning people in the city about the potential for heavy traffic as a result of an unsanctioned…

Major crash in Santa Cruz sends two people to the hospital, CHP investigating

August 17, 2023 8:47 AM Ana Torrea

Courtesy: Google Maps SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- On Wednesday, CHP responded to a major injury crash in the area of Highway 1, just north of North…