Santacruzsentinel.com covers local news in Santa Cruz County, California. Keep up with all business, local sports, outdoors, local columnists and more.

Nurses rally to urge Watsonville Community Hospital to reopen NICU

Approximately 50 nurses and union representatives gathered outside the Watsonville Community Hospital entrance Monday to speak out against the hospital's decision to temporarily close the neonatal intensive care unit due to a staffing shortage in the labor and delivery unit.

Sandra Morioka, a longtime registered nurse at Watsonville Community Hospital, speaks at a rally urging against the closure of the neonatal intensive care unit as the hospital experiences a labor and delivery staffing shortage. (Nick Sestanovich — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

A storm surge wave crests under the Stockton Avenue Bridge as it flows up Soquel Creek in January 2023. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

City Council makes plans for Stockton Avenue Bridge, Capitola Trestle

Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission. (PK Hattis — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Rock Island becomes new Watsonville freight rail operator

A firetruck passes as a wildfire called the Plaskett Fire burns towards Highway 1 on Friday in Big Sur. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Plaskett Fire near Big Sur doubles in size, residents told to expect evacuation

Former Dominican University and Cal Poly Pomona head coach Scott Davis was named interim head coach for UC Santa Cruz women's basketball team on Monday. (Alan Dep - Marin Independent Journal file)

Proven Scott Davis named interim head coach for UCSC women’s basketball | Local Roundup

Latest Headlines

Arrest warrants issued in connection with dead baby found on Moss Landing roadside

10 hours ago
Locals set for Super Girl Surf Festival in Virginia Beach | Local Roundup

11 hours ago
Guest Commentary | Use true facts on cost of Interim Trail

9 hours ago
Photo | Squadron on the rocks

2 days ago
Curt Wilcox runs for Pajaro Valley school board seat despite past arrests and felony conviction

2 days ago
Name Dropping | CASA of Santa Cruz welcomes new advocates for children

2 days ago
Wright’s organic architecture | Ross Eric Gibson, Local History

2 days ago
Sign up for email newsletters
Sign Up

Sports

Santa Cruz’s Brent Thiebout, left, and Lake Tahoe’s Matt Nolan after their main event MMA fight at Central Coast Fighting Championship 8 at The Grove at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Saturday. Nolan won with a unanimous decision. (Trong Hoang - CCFC)

Lake Tahoe’s Matt Nolan beats Santa Cruz’s Brent Thiebout in CCFC 8 main event | Local Roundup

Lake Tahoe’s Matt Nolan earned a unanimous decision over Santa Cruz’s Brent Thiebout in their MMA bout at 215 pounds in the main event of Central Coast Fighting Championship 8 -- “The Lost Boys” Muay Thai -- at The Grove...

Local News

San Jose City College defensive lineman Justin Buzzard (48) attends a defensive line huddle during their game against College of the Redwoods at San Jose City College in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. Buzzard, a 47-year-old father of three and pastor, is playing college football to fulfill a long-delayed dream. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

A 47-year-old South Bay pastor played college football on Saturday. How’d he hold up?

Justin Buzzard resumed his football career decades after he thought it was over.

Lifestyle

A bicycle rider makes his way along a segment of the new Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in San Mateo County, Calif. The trail opens to the public Monday, August 24, and will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

New Bay Area Ridge Trail offers new outdoor escape

Hikers, bikers and equestrians can visit the six-mile Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day beginning Monday.

Best Reviews

How to use a hair diffuser

If you have curly or wavy hair and want to blow-dry your hair with as...

Entertainment

Local students watch Santa Cruz Shakespeare's 2019 production of "The Comedy of Errors" for Student Matinee Week. The company will perform the play again for its 2027 season. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Santa Cruz Shakespeare to expand even further in 2027 season

The company's response has been to try to go bigger, and the newly announced 2027...

Opinion

Letters to the Editor | Aug. 29, 2026

The Santa Cruz Sentinel's Letters to the Editor for Aug. 29, 2026.

Things To Do

The Wizard of Oz Museum features a yellow brick road and more than 2,000 artifacts inside at the Cocoa Beach attraction. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Follow the yellow brick road to the new Wizard of Oz Museum in Florida

The Wizard of Oz Museum moved from Cape Canaveral to Cocoa Beach earlier this summer...

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Latest Headlines

Sports

Local News

A 47-year-old South Bay pastor played college football on Saturday. How’d he hold up?

Lifestyle

Photos

Dolly Parton’s life and career as a country music icon, actor and philanthropist, in photos

Patchwork lineup, bullpen help SF Giants end skid as starting pitcher exits early

Watch: Santa Cruz teen lifeguard Ryder Williams at the White House

This Bay Area chef’s ‘Hell Chicken’ might be a taste of heaven on earth

Photos: Canines hang ten at annual World Dog Surfing Championships

See it: World Cup closing ceremonies, final match and halftime show in photos

Riding the waves: What it’s like to try surfing as a woman over 40

Warriors Summer League: Yaxel Lendeborg-led defense smothers Spurs

Could a fertilizer breakthrough at Lawrence Livermore Lab spark the next Green Revolution?

Best Reviews

How to use a hair diffuser

Protect your teeth with the best enamel toothpaste

Need quiet time? Try these earplugs

Get tough on grime with the best Sun Joe pressure washer

Entertainment

Column: Reconnecting with authors Colin Asher and Irvine Welsh, both with new books

Dolly Parton’s love of the Great Smoky Mountains helped transform her hometown

Opinion

Things To Do

Follow the yellow brick road to the new Wizard of Oz Museum in Florida

Nature journaling club members ‘fill their cup’ by noticing the natural world

‘Die for Me’ author (and cardiologist) Shirlene Obuobi prescribes romance

‘Cooking Thai’ recipe: Savory Citrus-Herb Salad

Featured

Latest Headlines

Most Popular

KTLA news anchor Chris Burrous dies after collapse in motel room

City Council makes plans for Stockton Avenue Bridge, Capitola Trestle

Plaskett Fire near Big Sur doubles in size, residents told to expect evacuation

Name Dropping | CASA of Santa Cruz welcomes new advocates for children

Curt Wilcox runs for Pajaro Valley school board seat despite past arrests and felony conviction

Photo | Squadron on the rocks

San Clemente father of 5 facing paralysis after trying to rescue young child

Photo | Sturgeon moon over the Monterey Bay a symbol of abundance

Nurses rally to urge Watsonville Community Hospital to reopen NICU

Arrest warrants issued in connection with dead baby found on Moss Landing roadside

Events