SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV)- The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors could consider approving a proposal that would offer more help for families who are still rebuilding their homes from the CZU Fire. The Board of Supervisors will consider a $600,000 contract extension with 4-Leaf Inc. The proposal would allow the recovery permit center to give fire survivors an additional six months of priority service. The center was established to help fire victims the rebuilding process like navigating insurance, FEMA paperwork and environmental codes. “It's really trying to help our fire survi ..read more

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- A long-term housing project for UC Santa Cruz students and faculty will be moving forward. A university spokesperson confirmed to KION that they will increase student housing by 40 percent through 2030. During an April 30th council meeting, the Santa Cruz City Council confirmed the necessary changes to move the project forward. The new housing project will be for 400 upper-division undergraduate students and more than 60 employees. The housing project will be within walking distance of campus and direct bus routes. “I think it’s definitely needed, it’s really unf ..read more

PG&E Social Media SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- On May 7 from 1 pm until 4 pm, PG&E is holding an emergency preparedness demonstration along with their team of geoscientists and Ready America and The Big Shaker Earthquake Simulator. Throughout May, PG&E is hosting earthquake awareness events across its service territory to demonstrate specific earthquake risks among the area, as well as protection tips. “Computer models and historical data show that we have a chance of at least a magnitude 6 earthquake every year. Those earthquakes are not ..read more

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV)- Native Animal Rescue in Santa Cruz County has been rescuing 3-5 Brown Pelicans a day recently due to the lack of fish in the area. The organization says before April 18 they received 7 pelicans, but in the last two weeks they've taken care of 109 starving or injured pelicans. 29 have died and 50 had to be transferred. It's unclear why there aren't any fish and the issue is also hitting parts of Southern California, too. Pelicans have also shown up sick in Monterey County, too. “A pelican should fly away when you approach them and these poor pelicans are co ..read more

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)-UPDATE ON MAY 8, 2024 AT 3:52 PM- A former UC Santa Cruz Student who is accused of murdering his girlfriend in February will now face trial. 20-year-old Samuel Stone appeared for a disposition hearing on Tuesday. Stone was deemed mentally competent to stand trial in April. He has plead not guilty to the murder of 21-year-old Zainab Mansoor who was his girlfriend and a student at UC Santa Cruz. According to the Santa Cruz County Superior Court, Stone will be in court on May 21 at 8:15 a.m. for an arraignment on information. Former UC Santa Cruz student who is accus ..read more

Siskiyou County Sheriff's OfficeTimothy Chase McDonald SISKIYOU COUNTY, Calif. (KION)- UPDATE ON MAY 8, 2024 AT 6:29 PM- The Siskiyou County District Attorney's Office said that 26-year-old Timothy Chase McDonald was found guilty of shooting a killing a former Santa Cruz County resident. According to a CBS affiliate KHSL-TV, 26-year-old Timothy Chase McDonald was found guilty of murdering 31-year-old Spencer Hodgson of Santa Cruz County on April 8, 2019. The incident started when the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a dead body in the Klamath River area which is north ..read more

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Santa Cruz CHP shut down SR 152 in both directions between Casserly Rd. and Watsonville Rd. with no estimated time for reopening Monday morning. A big rig overturned on the W/B section of the highway. According to CHP officer Israel Murillo, big rigs are not supposed to be driving on that stretch of the highway. The driver of the truck has minor injuries, according to the CHP. The CHP is telling travelers to find alternate routes to avoid delays, and that SR-129 is open. Caltrans says the road is expected to reopen by 7 p.m. The post Overturned semi-truck shut ..read more

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The captain of the dive boat Conception that sunk in a deadly fire back in 2019 has been sentenced to four years by a Los Angeles County judge. In making his decision, District Judge George Wu said he mulled multiple factors in sentencing Jerry Boylan. There are plans to provide restitution for the families of the 34 people killed in the fire. The judge and attorneys in the case agreed July 11, 2024 as a date for that hearing. During sentencing, a statement from Boylan was read to family members of the victims. "I know my words won't change anything. I offer m ..read more

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- UC Santa Cruz students marched on campus on Wednesday afternoon as part of protests regarding the Israel-Hamas War. The protest was organized as a May Day march and rally organized by UC Santa Cruz students and faculty. This comes as protests have been happening around the country including 25 students getting arrested at Cal Poly Humboldt. More than 100 students and faculty members protested this Wednesday afternoon on UC Santa Cruz campus. The march started at the Science and Engineering library, Science Hill, and ended at Cowell Courtyard. “As a Jewish person ..read more

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- The Santa Cruz Police Department are assisting Santa Cruz Fire as crews are responding to a fire at an apartment complex on the 100 block of Grant Street on Tuesday. Officers say that people who live at the apartment complex and people who live nearby. Santa Cruz Police confirmed that the fire is out. Santa Cruz Fire Department Division Chief Ryan Reber told KION that two people suffered injuries. One adult was treated at scene while a minor suffered possible first-degree burns. Firefighters also rescued two dogs from the second floor. The dogs suffered singed ha ..read more