Podcasts about watsonville

Although “students” are typically thought of as young people enrolled in K through 12 schools or college…many people over 64 also make up the student population in the San Joaquin Valley. And they're still reaping the benefits of learning…physically and emotionally. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR California voters will decide on 14 state ballot measures this November. That includes a controversial wealth tax on California billionaires that remains on the ballot after yesterday's deadline despite a flurry of negotiations. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Senator Alex Padilla is launching a first of its kind initiative to help protect against interference in the November midterm election. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, KQED The FIFA World Cup continues. The U.S. saw its first defeat Thursday night against Turkey, in a 3-2 loss, but the Americans will still advance to the knockout stage … along with fellow hosts Mexico and Canada. Over in Watsonville, one group of kids got to experience the World Cup real close. Reporter: Erin Malsbury, KAZU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: From Silence to Support: Avner's Journey to Healing Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2026-06-23-07-38-20-he Story Transcript:He: בשעת צהריים חמה של יוני, על חצר רחבה של תיכון ציבורי ווטסונוויל, התרוצצו תלמידים בכל פינה.En: On a hot June afternoon, in the wide courtyard of Watsonville public high school, students were bustling in every corner.He: אווירת הקיץ כבר השתלטה על כולם, אבל לא על אבנר.En: The summer atmosphere had already taken over everyone, but not Avner.He: אבנר ישב בקצה אחד של הכיתה, מבטו מרוכז בחלון.En: Avner sat at one end of the classroom, his gaze focused on the window.He: כאבים בראשו הלכו והתגברו כל יום, כמו ענן כבד שמטיל צל על כל דבר שעשה.En: The headaches he suffered from were getting worse every day, like a heavy cloud casting a shadow over everything he did.He: "למה כואב כל כך?En: "Why does it hurt so much?"He: " שאל את עצמו שוב ושוב, אבל תשובה לא מצא.En: he asked himself over and over, but he found no answer.He: אבנר היה תלמיד חרוץ.En: Avner was a diligent student.He: הקריירה האקדמית שלו הייתה חשובה לו ולמשפחתו.En: His academic career was important to him and his family.He: הם סמכו עליו שיביא גאווה.En: They relied on him to bring pride.He: באותו יום, עם נשימות כבדות, אבנר הסתכל סביבו על חבריו.En: That day, with heavy breaths, Avner looked around at his classmates.He: דליה, חברתו הטובה, הבחינה בו מהקצה השני של הכיתה.En: Dalia, his best friend, noticed him from the other side of the classroom.He: היא ניסתה להסתכל לו בעיניים, אבל הוא התחמק.En: She tried to catch his eye but he avoided her gaze.He: אבנר לא רצה להדאיג אותה או את הוריו.En: Avner did not want to worry her or his parents.He: בסוף היום, כאשר כולם עזבו כבר את הכיתה, נשארו אבנר ודליה.En: At the end of the day, when everyone had already left the classroom, Avner and Dalia remained.He: "אבנר, מה קורה?En: "Avner, what's going on?"He: " שאלה דליה, קול שלה עדין ואכפתי.En: asked Dalia, her voice gentle and caring.He: הוא השתהה לרגע, אבל לבסוף, אחרי הרבה התלבטויות, הודה בקול רך, "יש לי כאבי ראש מאוד חזקים בזמן האחרון, ואני לא יודע למה.En: He hesitated for a moment, but finally, after much deliberation, he admitted softly, "I've been having very strong headaches lately, and I don't know why."He: " דליה הסתכלה עליו בעיניים תומכות ואמרה, "אתה לא לבד בזה.En: Dalia looked at him with supportive eyes and said, "You're not alone in this.He: תן לי לעזור.En: Let me help."He: "באותו רגע החלה תחושה חדשה להתפשט בלבו של אבנר - הצורך למצוא פתרון.En: At that moment, a new feeling began to spread in Avner's heart—the need to find a solution.He: עם דליה, הוא קיבל את ההחלטה ללכת לאחות בית הספר.En: Together with Dalia, he made the decision to go to the school nurse.He: כשהגיעו, גילתה האחות דאגה אמיתית והמליצה שיספר להוריו.En: When they arrived, the nurse expressed genuine concern and recommended that he tell his parents.He: דליה החזיקה את ידו של אבנר ואמרה, "זה הזמן לעשות את המעשה הנכון.En: Dalia held Avner's hand and said, "It's time to do the right thing."He: "בצעדים איטיים אבל בטוחים, אבנר חזר הביתה וסיפר להוריו על הקשיים שעובר.En: With slow but sure steps, Avner returned home and told his parents about the difficulties he was experiencing.He: הוריו, שתמיד דאגו לו ולמדו ממנו כנות ואומץ, מיד סידרו לו פגישה עם רופא.En: His parents, who always cared for him and learned from him honesty and courage, immediately arranged for him to see a doctor.He: זמן לא רב לאחר מכן, גילה הרופא שהכאבים נגרמים מעייפות.En: Not long afterward, the doctor discovered that the pains were caused by fatigue.He: המלצותיו היו ברורות - לתת לעצמו לנוח יותר ולדאוג לבריאותו.En: His recommendations were clear—to give himself more rest and to take care of his health.He: אבנר, עם חיוך ראשון מזה זמן רב על פניו, למד את הערך שבשיתוף בעיותיו.En: Avner, with the first smile on his face in a long time, learned the value of sharing his problems.He: ההבנה שמדובר בנטל שיש לחלוק ולא לשאת לבד נתנה לו תחושת הקלה והבנה חדשה על החיים.En: The understanding that it was a burden to be shared and not to be carried alone gave him a sense of relief and new insight into life.He: הוא ישב ליד דליה במגרש המשחקים, כשהוא נושם נשימה עמוקה ומסתכל על המשתנה של הזמן.En: He sat next to Dalia on the playground, taking a deep breath and looking at the passing of time.He: "תודה," אמר לה.En: "Thank you," he said to her.He: היא חייכה חזרה, והם צפו יחד בשקיעה המרהיבה על החצר הגדולה של תיכון ווטסונוויל, בה הרוחות החמות של הקיץ מתחילות לנשוב קלות.En: She smiled back, and they watched together the magnificent sunset over the large courtyard of Watsonville High School, where the warm breezes of summer began to blow gently. Vocabulary Words:bustling: התרוצצוcourtyard: חצרgazé: מבטוdeliberation: התלבטויותcasting: מַטִּילdiligent: חרוץacademic: אקדמיתrelied: סמכוbreaths: נשימותgaze: להסתכלhesitated: השתההadmitted: הודהsupportive: תומכותspread: להתפשטsolution: פתרוןnurse: אחותgenuine: אמיתיתrecommended: המליצהfatigue: עייפותburden: נטלrelief: הקלהinsight: הבנהmagnificent: מרהיבהshadow: צלhardships: קשייםdecision: החלטהslow: איטייםsteps: צעדיםimmediately: מידpass: מסתכלBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Driscoll's CEO says weather volatility, rising regulations, labor concerns, and water challenges continue shaping the future of California's specialty crop industry, even as consumer demand for berries remains strong. Driscoll's Chief Executive Officer Soren Bjorn recently joined AgNet News Hour to discuss the current berry season, the company's growth, and the challenges facing specialty crop growers throughout California and beyond. According to Bjorn, California's strawberry season has been unusual due to weather patterns that disrupted normal production schedules. An early heat wave followed by cooler and wetter conditions shifted harvest timing, creating supply challenges across key growing regions. “We had a way too many strawberries in March and April, and now we don't have enough,” Bjorn explained, noting that the timing of production has created market complications for growers and retailers. Driscoll's, a family-owned company approaching its 75th anniversary, works with approximately 1,000 growers worldwide and sells berries in roughly 65 countries. The company's business model centers on developing proprietary berry varieties, producing plants through its nursery system, and partnering with growers who produce the fruit. While strawberries remain the company's signature crop, Bjorn highlighted continued growth across the berry category, particularly blueberries. Consumer demand for fresh berries continues to rise as shoppers increasingly seek healthier food choices. “The whole category is really where consumers want to be,” Bjorn said. “It's healthy, it's convenient, and consumers today are making choices to live a healthier lifestyle.” Bjorn also addressed California's regulatory environment, describing it as one of the most significant challenges facing specialty crop producers. He emphasized that many specialty crops cannot simply relocate to other states because California's climate provides ideal growing conditions. “The best place in the world to grow strawberries is in California,” Bjorn said. “We can't move it somewhere else.” In addition to regulatory concerns, Bjorn pointed to labor, housing, and water availability as ongoing issues. While he noted improvements in the federal H-2A guest worker program, affordable farmworker housing remains difficult to develop, particularly in California's coastal production regions. Water management also varies dramatically by region. Bjorn explained that growers in Watsonville, Santa Maria, and Ventura County each face different water supply realities, requiring localized solutions to maintain long-term agricultural viability. The CEO also discussed organic production, noting that Driscoll's accounts for more than half of organic berry sales in North America. However, organic strawberries can cost 30 to 35 percent more to produce than conventional berries, creating economic challenges despite growing consumer demand. Bjorn said future success will depend on balancing sustainability goals with practical farming realities, particularly when it comes to crop protection tools and biological alternatives to traditional pesticides. He stressed that innovation must keep pace with regulatory changes to ensure growers remain profitable and productive. Beyond policy issues, Bjorn encouraged agriculture to do a better job telling its story to consumers and community leaders. He believes many misconceptions about farming can be addressed through education and direct engagement with the public. As California agriculture continues navigating regulatory, labor, and environmental pressures, Bjorn said maintaining profitable farms remains the ultimate priority. “There is nothing I'm more worried about in my job every day than making sure the growers we work with can be successful for another generation or two,” he said.

New Leaf Energy is bypassing Santa Cruz County in its effort to seek approval for a new battery energy storage facility in Watsonville. For Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church, who represents Moss Landing, that's the worst-case scenario.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has a lot in common with his Democratic opponents in the race for California governor. Like them, he is making affordability and cutting red tape centerpieces of his campaign. But he has been more outspoken in his criticism of Governor Gavin Newsom, and he's often described as the moderate Democrat in the race. Still, Mahan has pushed back on the moderate label. “I think we should want great things for everyone, but I worry that our state often embraces policies that are idealistic, that sound good, are performative and aren't working in practice,” Mahan told the Orange County Register in February. “And that's why I consider myself a pragmatist more than anything.”To address the homelessness crisis, Mahan would expand the use of tiny homes, among other initiatives. He also supports “requiring treatment for the drug, alcohol and mental health conditions that lead to repeated arrests and trap people on the streets.” A former tech entrepreneur, Mahan grew up in Watsonville and was elected to the San José City Council in 2020. He narrowly won the race for mayor two years later, and was reelected in a landslide in 2024.  Mahan joins Commonwealth Club World Affairs as part of our “Race for Governor 2026” series of candidate forums. Come meet the candidate, hear his vision for California, and ask your questions before you cast your vote for California's next governor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cassandra Bautista, Rachel Huerta, Zoe Ly Sen & Andrea Wilson visit the KSQD studio with host Farnaz Fatemi to talk about the 44th annual In Celebration of the MUSE in Santa Cruz County. Hear some heart-stopping poems this hour! .....And, in addition to talking about this special event, each of the four commanding voices share their experiences with poetry and writing poems. Join us for an episode with these upcoming poets!Cassandra Bautista: Mexican-American poet from Los Angeles who recently moved to Santa Cruz to pursue Literature at UCSC. They are enamored by the way poetry weaves soul into its verse, capable of holding the essence of existence. Cassandra works in co-creation with life to reveal personal truths through writing, sharing experiences of migration, womanhood, magic, queerness, or just straight up living. They write for liberation and for any heart who may resonate with their poems.Rachel Huerta is an English major at Cabrillo College (transferring to Westmont College); she currently works as an English/Spanish tutor. Rachel served as an inaugural Youth Poet Laureate for the City of Watsonville (2023-2025), and her portfolio consists mostly of poetry and half-finished novels. She was once a featured speaker alongside Dolores Huerta – no relation, only wishful thinking. You can find her work in the Porter Gulch Review and Journal X.Zoe Ly Sen is a queer Vietnamese-American writer and painter. Their favorite color is forest green and their favorite painter is Francis Bacon. If they were a Pokémon they would be dragon-fairy type because they are their own greatest strength and weakness. Their life aspirations are going back to Vietnam as a teacher, also finding a warm place to rest their head. They believe in empowering indigenous youth to heal mother earth from settler-colonial violence. They want to live to see Palestine, Sudan, and Hawai'i be free.Andrea Wilson has lived and worked in Santa Cruz County for over 20 years but is originally from Massachusetts. They joined the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz about 15 years ago and volunteers at forays and events, including the Fungus Fair every January. Andrea graduated from Cabrillo, June 2025, with a degree in English. Their pieces can be found published in Cabrillo Watsonville's Journal X.

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man brings you four outstanding spring items that are sure to get your attention.First, we head into the tropical fruit world with the exotic and delicious longan.Then it's off to Watsonville, California for beautiful red Little Gem lettuce and fresh new crop sugar snap peas.We also explain the difference between stringless and traditional sugar snap peas.And while we're talking peas, we dive into pea greens, tendrils, and shoots, and how to use those tender greens in the kitchen.Finally, we wrap it up with the granddaddy of them all, Haden mangoes.It's all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays, from the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife Media.Check out aglifemedia.com today.

This week on Fresh from the Field Fridays, Dan the Produce Man brings you four outstanding spring items that are sure to get your attention.First, we head into the tropical fruit world with the exotic and delicious longan.Then it's off to Watsonville, California for beautiful red Little Gem lettuce and fresh new crop sugar snap peas.We also explain the difference between stringless and traditional sugar snap peas.And while we're talking peas, we dive into pea greens, tendrils, and shoots, and how to use those tender greens in the kitchen.Finally, we wrap it up with the granddaddy of them all, Haden mangoes.It's all right here on Fresh from the Field Fridays, from the Produce Industry Network, powered by AgLife Media.Check out aglifemedia.com today.

#270: Omar Dieguez shares the story behind his 30 day hunger strike over Driscoll's berries and the campaign to stop pesticides near schools in Watsonville, CA and the Pajaro Valley. From spray drift and youth organizing to farmworker exposure, Omar explains why he believes a handful of fields near local schools should be converted to organic. This is a unforgettable conversation about berries, power, and the communities asked to bear the cost of chemical agriculture. https://realorganicproject.org/omar-dieguez-hunger-strike-driscolls-berriesThe Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:https://www.realorganicproject.org/directoryWe believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000  Real Friends:https://www.realorganicproject.org/real-organic-friends/To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/

Stoking the fireA little weekend recap.NARC lowers the age limit in their seriesOn deck for the week: WOO at US 36, 81 Speedway. High Limit at Vado, Route 66, Dodge City. Lucas Oil late models at Brownstown for the Icebreaker. And more!Social media of the week: Rusty Schlenk gets pulled over. Shock collars. And some more words of wisdom from Flea.The DraftFeature FinishWoO sprint cars @ Lawton and Creek County SpeedwayHigh Limit @ Central Arizona Raceway for the Cactus ClassicWoO late models at The MAG USAC/CRA sprint cars at Perris Auto SpeedwayParagon Speedway - No Way Out 40Port Royal, Williams Grove, Watsonville, Placerville season openersFAST on Dirt at Pittsburgh PA Motor SpeedwaySpring 50 at FlorenceThe SmokeHoliday candy discussion. Which holiday is the best? The guys weigh in. Crab pot pie?A visit to Los Tres Camino's and a new dish to try!Camping and visiting the Smokin' Pig.70 cent shrimp day at Wings Etc.Hornet's Nest for lunch!Another #notmyfishfridayNoble Roman's and Polish sausagesA giant pretzel

HealthCare UnTold is excited to release our new podcast episode today in collaboration with PODCASTHON.ORG — a global charity event mobilizing thousands of podcasts to support an incredible range of nonprofit organizations. For this year's event, we are proud to uplift and support Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance (PVPSA) in Watsonville CA by highlighting the inspiring work of Luz Sotelo. Luz Sotelo is a dedicated youth advocate serving as Youth Program Manager at Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance in Watsonville.CA. These are challenging times for our communities and for the organizations that stand beside us. You can make a meaningful difference by supporting groups like PVPSA.org through your generous donations. Together, we help ensure that youth and families continue receiving the vital support they deserve. Please donate to: PVPSA.org #PVPSA.org #YouthEmpowerment #CommunityWellness #PreventionMatters #PodcastForGood

I interviewed SXSW XR Experience 2026 curator Blake Kammerdiener about this year's selection, and how immersive artists are using Generative AI in a series of different projects. Below is the selection (ordered from longest to shortest). This year's program runs from 11a to 6p CDT from Sunday, March 15-17, 2026. XR Experience Competition Escape The Internet (Part 1) (50 min) Inter(mediate) Spaces (45 min) Winterover (45 min) Fabula Rasa: Dead Man Talking (30 min) Frustrain: Trainman (30 min) The Forgotten War (30 min) Watsonville (30 min) Fillos do Vento: A Rapa (28 min) Crafting Crimes: The Mona Lisa Heist (20 min) Love Bird (20 min) The Baby Factory is Closed (20 min) Lionia Is Leaving (18 min) Body Proxy (15 min) Cycle (15 min) The Great Dictator: A participatory AI installation about power, rhetoric, and memory (15 min) XR Experience Spotlight The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up (62 min) The Great Orator (50 min) Lesbian Simulator (40 min) A Long Goodbye (35 min) Dark Rooms (35 min) Lacuna (34 min) The Dollhouse (24 min) Reality Looks Back (21 min) Insider Outsider (12 min) loss·y (10 min) Lost Love Hotline (10 min) Out of Nowhere (10 min) Spectacular: The Art of Jonathan Yeo in Augmented Reality (10 min) Ascended Intelligence (9 min) MIT Open Documentary Lab's AR and Public Space Artist Collective Layers of Place: Austin [90 min total] ORYZA: Healing Ground (15 min) The Founders Pillars (15 min) Open Access Memorial (15 min) Paper Boat (15 min) Humble Monuments (15 min) Moving Memory (15 min) This is a listener-supported podcast through the Voices of VR Patreon. Music: Fatality

Interview with new owners and promoters of the Watsonville Speedway, Rob Gallaher and Samantha Harper, on the future of the beloved race track.

San José Mayor Matt Mahan is positioning himself as a “change” candidate in the crowded race for California governor. As a moderate Democrat who has frequently clashed with fellow Democrats over his stances on homelessness and public safety, earning attention as a rare critic of his own party.  Marisa and Scott are joined by Mahan to talk about the strong backing he's received from the Silicon Valley tech community and how his approach to homelessness in San José – redirecting funds from permanent housing toward temporary shelter – could shape his statewide strategy. They also discuss his upbringing in Watsonville and the lessons he learned from his father's career as a mail carrier. This interview is part of a series of conversations with the 2026 gubernatorial candidates for California. The primary election is June 2. Check out Political Breakdown's weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laurie Emery of Indivisible Pajaro Valley helped organize a protest in Watsonville calling the attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel unconstitutional. And, Tig Notaro comes to Monterey for two nights after taking two and a half years off touring.

Dr.  Kathleen "Kat" Cruz Gutierrez (Ph.D. Southeast Asian Studies, Berkeley) is Assistant Professor of Southeast Asian history and the history of science at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She writes on the history of botany, botanical taxonomies, and the recent scholarly "plant turn." Her research has been generously supported by the Social Science Research Council, the Henry Luce Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her previous affiliations include De La Salle University, Manila, the Humanities Institute of the New York Botanical Garden, and the Oak Spring Garden Foundation. She presently serves as co-Principal Investigator for a community-engaged research initiative on Filipino agrarian labor and migration titled "Watsonville is in the Heart." For her work, she was awarded in 2024 the Richard E. Cone Award for Emerging Leaders in Community Engagement by LEAD California, a biannual honor that recognizes a single individual in higher education evidencing steadfast commitment to community engagement in their early careers.  In today's conversation we discuss her latest monograph Unmaking Botany: Science and Vernacular Knowledge in the Colonial Philippines where she traces a history of botany in the Philippines during the last decades of Spanish rule and the first decades of US colonization.  Through this history, she redefines the vernacular, expanding it to include embodied, cosmological, artistic, and varied taxonomic practices. 

Black History Month events around the region, human remains found in Monterey County, Watsonville's Hope Village welcomes first residents, and more local news in this week's roundup.

Watsonville's Hope Village—a tiny home community for people living unsheltered on the Pajaro River levee—finally welcomes its first residents. And, Santa Cruz Public Libraries is hosting a screening this Saturday of the forthcoming documentary “The Inquisitor," which chronicles the legacy of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan.

The CEO of Watsonville Community Hospital assures the public that the intensive care unit will remain open despite financial challenges. Plus, death cap mushroom poisonings continue.

It's a new year on Fresh-from-the-Field Fridays, and Dan the Produce Man brings you four in-season favorites.We kick things off with broccolini, also known as sweet baby broccoli, where it came from, why it goes by so many different names, and why the stems matter.With all the rain in Northern California, chanterelle mushrooms are abundant right now, and they remain a true favorite among chefs.A brief field update from strawberry fields in Watsonville.We also get into sunchokes. Are these sunny artichokes? Well, not really. Find out what this tasty tuber is all about.And we wrap things up with a quick blurb on the Sumo Mandarin, including which three citrus varieties contributed to its development.It's all right here on Fresh-from-the-Field Fridays, on the Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media.

It's a new year on Fresh-from-the-Field Fridays, and Dan the Produce Man brings you four in-season favorites.We kick things off with broccolini, also known as sweet baby broccoli, where it came from, why it goes by so many different names, and why the stems matter.With all the rain in Northern California, chanterelle mushrooms are abundant right now, and they remain a true favorite among chefs.A brief field update from strawberry fields in Watsonville.We also get into sunchokes. Are these sunny artichokes? Well, not really. Find out what this tasty tuber is all about.And we wrap things up with a quick blurb on the Sumo Mandarin, including which three citrus varieties contributed to its development.It's all right here on Fresh-from-the-Field Fridays, on the Produce Industry Network and AgLife Media.

Some Mixtec farmworkers in Watsonville have trained as doulas to support other Indigenous women during pregnancy and childbirth. Reporter: Ngozi Cole, KAZU A tribal group in central California is celebrating the return of thousands of acres of land back from the state. Reporter: Cresencio Rodriguez Delgado, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of the America's Work Force Union Podcast, Casey Van Den Heuvel, business representative for Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, shared insights into the ongoing challenges faced by union workers in California's Monterey and Santa Cruz regions. The discussion centered on the fight to maintain Project Labor Agreements (PLA) in Watsonville, the importance of union activism and member engagement, as well as broader challenges related to fair contracting and construction industry standards. Local 104 has over 9,000 members and spans 49 counties in California, from the Oregon border to Ventura County.  Tom Buffenbarger, independent labor voice and retired International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Boeing strike in St. Louis, his thoughts on Ford Motor Company Chairman Jim Farley's comments on America's skilled labor shortage and the uncertainties facing the U.S. economy in 2026.

SNAP benefit upheaval coincides with the end of some local farm contracts, a film screening in Watsonville tackles masculinity, Mixtec farmworkers as doulas, and more in this week's local news roundup.

Some Mixtec farmworkers in Watsonville have trained as doulas to support other Indigenous women during pregnancy and childbirth. They want to offer physical and emotional support, and serve as translators during hospital visits.

A new report says a proposed passenger rail line between Santa Cruz and Watsonville is not getting any cheaper. And, Monterey County wants to hear from residents about how best to address sustainable transportation gaps.

Thousands took to the streets throughout the Monterey Bay Area this weekend to protest authoritarianism as part of nationwide “No Kings” rallies. In Watsonville, attendees got to hear from a special guest.

The City of Marina hosts a series of festivities to celebrate its 50th anniversary. And, renewable energy developer New Leaf Energy presents to the Watsonville City Council about the battery energy storage facility it wants to build near College Lake.

Send us a textThe room gets loud when stakes are high—threats, rumors, pressure, even your own inner commentary. We sat down with DeAndre James, executive director of the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley to map a saner path through the chaos: turn down the noise, clarify the facts, and move with integrity even when power says “wait.” From an all-night food mission in the mil tary that drew bogus warnings to the green light on a new wellness center in Watsonville, this conversation shows how courage and patience can coexist.Support the show

Central Coast Democratic Rep. Jimmy Panetta faces backlash from pro-Palestine groups over his support of Israel during a Watsonville town hall.

Watsonville students created short films that will screen at UC Santa Cruz today. A Q&A discussion will follow the free event. And, local libraries are protesting censorship by celebrating Banned Books Week.

Today on the SwimSwam Podcast we're joined by Lucas Sallas-Cunha, head coach of Quicksilver Swimming in Santa Cruz. Lucas has spent his career building champions in the pool, but his latest chapter is about something bigger: access. He recently expanded his program into Watsonville, California, a largely Hispanic/Latino community where swimming participation and water safety skills have historically been limited. To truly understand the cultural and structural barriers, Lucas earned his Doctorate in Education and centered his dissertation on the topic: “Understanding Water: Values, Viewpoints, and Behaviors That Influence Swimming Participation in Watsonville, CA.”

Today to assist us with our wild calls, we have artist Danny V! Follow Danny!https://www.instagram.com/thatsdannyv/ Buy Tickets to Theme Speed Dating in LONG BEACH October 12th!https://lnk.bio/ThemeSpeedDating Buy Merch Here!https://www.inlandentertainment.com Call Us To Be On The Show!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdV8WNMg69TLL4nYttVh_mKAoLRYzRtnCT226InJqh3ixQR5g/viewform Follow Us!https://linktr.ee/buenobuenopdc Saul V GomezInstagram -  https://www.instagram.com/saulvgomez/Twitter - https://twitter.com/Saulvgomez_Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@saulvgomez Hans EsquivelInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/hans_esquivel/Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@hanss444 RexxInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/rexxb/Twitter - https://twitter.com/rexxgodbTik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@rexx.b1 Topics00:00:00 - intro00:02:05 - Walked in on my girlfriend cheating on me00:18:55 - Watsonville and the IE00:32:35 - pursing singing in a Mexican house00:38:45 - my boyfriend ghosts me l00:49:00 - my baby daddy is a cock block01:06:25 - finding inspiration with love01:12:55 - what Danny has learned from touring01:16:00 - the importance of social media01:26:20 - plateauing in entertainment  

In this episode of The Fresh CrEd, recorded live at the 2025 IFPA Foodservice Conference in Monterey, we spotlight Digital Nest — a nonprofit workforce hub that's been creating opportunities for underserved youth for more than a decade. With centers across Watsonville, Salinas, Gilroy, Modesto, and Stockton, Digital Nest equips young people ages 14–24 with technical and creative skills that open doors to careers in tech, marketing, and beyond. Their work doesn't stop at the classroom — they're also experimenting with how Gen Z connects to food through projects like the “I'd Bite That” social media campaign. From mentorship to career pipelines, Digital Nest shows what's possible when access, creativity, and community come together.

Send us a textIn this second half of my two-part conversation, actor Sedrick Cabrera takes us inside his recent film work and the leap from stage to screen. We explore his experience on FREAKY TALES  including what it was like sharing the set with Pedro Pascal, and his role in acclaimed director Michel Franco's DREAMS (2025) alongside Academy Award–winning actress Jessica Chastain.Sedrick reflects on the lessons learned from collaborating with such celebrated talent, the transition from theatre to film, and the ways these projects are shaping the next chapter of his acting journey.

Indivisible Pájaro Valley and the Watsonville Film Festival are screening the documentary American Agitators this Friday. Plus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will stop publishing data on food insecurity—a problem that affects tens of thousands of people on the Central Coast.

In this episode of the Contacts Coaching Podcast, we sit down with Will Burkett, an assistant basketball coach at Santa Clara University. Will shares his journey from being a high school athlete in Watsonville, through his time as a student manager at the University of Arizona, to playing and coaching roles at institutions like Monterey Peninsula College and Santa Clara University. He discusses the nuances of his coaching experience, insights on Division I athletics, the importance of authenticity in coaching, and the impact of NIL on college sports. Will also touches on creating a culture of joy in athletics and the valuable lessons learned from working under various coaching staff and within different basketball programs.00:00 Introduction and Guest Background00:52 Early Career and University of Arizona Experience02:01 Transition to Coaching and Santa Clara Journey10:40 Roles and Responsibilities in Coaching17:55 Offensive and Defensive Coordination24:32 The Coach's Mindset and Adaptability25:49 Developing NBA Talent at Santa Clara30:02 Impact of NIL and Transfer Portal on Recruiting33:10 Creating a Culture of Joy and Competitiveness38:12 The Role of Multi-Sport Athletes41:50 Learning from Other Sports and Analytics45:55 Simplifying Coaching for Better Performance49:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Send us a textIn this first half of my two-part conversation, actor Sedrick Cabrera opens up about his roots in Watsonville, California, and how his journey into acting began long before the cameras rolled on FREAKY TALES. We dive into his formative years at San Jose State University's Theatre Arts Program, where he discovered a passion for stage acting from Shakespeare to Steinbeck.We explore the challenges, breakthroughs, and stage experiences that laid the foundation for his career to pursue acting seriously.Sedrick shares the pivotal moments, mentors, and performances that shaped his path toward film and television, and how his cultural heritage from a small coastal California town laid the groundwork for his success as an actor.

Watsonville votes to expand a contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate readers. And, a state bill moves to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk that would make CEQA exemptions for certain transit projects permanent.

The Campaign for Organic and Regenerative Agriculture will co-host an event on Sunday to educate and unite people against the use of toxic pesticides in the Pajaro Valley. And, farmworker rights activist Dolores Huerta supports a redistricting measure that could result in more Democrats in Congress.

Local officials and residents are celebrating the opening of a 72-unit affordable housing project in Watsonville. And, California Democrats have less than two weeks to get a redistricting measure on the November ballot.

After months of delays, the first units for an interim housing project were delivered this week in Watsonville. Plus, former Vice President Kamala Harris says no to a gubernatorial run.

This week on Fresh From The Field Fridays Ross and Dan are reportin live from the Organic Produce Summit 2025 in Monterey California! - A short and fresh look at what's happening in organics this week and a recap of the Lakeside Organic Gardens Farm Tour in Watsonville.

This week on Fresh From The Field Fridays Ross and Dan are reportin live from the Organic Produce Summit 2025 in Monterey California! - A short and fresh look at what's happening in organics this week and a recap of the Lakeside Organic Gardens Farm Tour in Watsonville.

On January 2025 The Moss Landing battery fire, a significant incident at Vistra's energy storage facility, caused widespread concer and disruption. The fire occured in a building housing thousands of lithium-ion batteries, triggering evacuations and raising concerns about the safety of large battery installations.Becky Steinbruner of the Community Matters show joins us to discuss a coalition of citizens with the goal to have Board of Supervisors approve a temporary moratorium on grid-scale lithium battery storage, facilities, covene a technical advisory panel to make recommendations regarding the impending draft Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) County Ordinance, and hold town hall meetings with the public. One of the three sites the County has selected to place a BESS is 90 Minto Road in Watsonville. That project, known as Seahawk Energy Storage, is already in the permitting process and would employ over 300 storage containers filled with lithium batteries. This is an agricultural area that borders College Lake and is near the County Fairgrounds, which serves as the evacuation shelter for the County.

While we work on more upcoming stories from Feet in 2 Worlds, we want to share some great episodes from other podcasts we think you'll like. This story comes from our friends at Proof from America's Test Kitchen. It's a podcast that dives deep into the unexpected backstories behind food and drinks, while examining the human stories that intersect along the way.  This episode follows the journey of the Shinta and Kawahara families — from immigration, to incarceration, to the present day. Proof reporter Hannah Kirshner travels to Watsonville, California, to report how Japanese-Americans — through their resilience — used ingenuity to help turn strawberries from a seasonal fruit to one that's available year-round. The episode was hosted by Proof's previous host, Kevin Pang.

Justin is CEO of K&D Landscaping, a high-end landscaping design and maintenance company based in Watsonville, California. Similar to modern civil contractors, Justin's leading the charge to shake up not only how his company does business but also how landscaping operates as a whole. You can learn more by visiting their company website and following Justin at the links below! https://kndlandscaping.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-white-%E2%98%85-35b7a210b/ https://www.instagram.com/justinwhiteceo/ Learn more about attending the 2025 Ariat Dirt World Summit by visiting www.dirtworld.com! Questions or feedback? Email us at dirttalk@buildwitt.com!

In today's newscast, Watsonville gets new affordable housing units, and Gov. Gavin Newsom's budget proposal could put foster family services in danger.

The 13th Annual Watsonville Film Festival was held earlier this month, and for the first time in its history, it screened films outside of Watsonville. In Salinas, they presented some films at Maya Cinema in Oldtown, most of which quickly sold out of tickets. We set up our equipment at XL Publichouse to record some interviews at the after-party. We talked with Andrea Leon, DJ Werm, Cari and Hector to talk about the festival and their experience in Oldtown. 

In the 1970s and 80s, the quiet towns of Weeki Wachee, Florida, and Watsonville, California, became the unlikely settings for a horrifying series of crimes. The story begins with Billy Mansfield, Jr., a convicted serial killer currently serving multiple life sentences, whose crimes shocked the nation. But Billy wasn't alone; his father, William Mansfield Sr., a convicted child molester, and brother, Gary Mansfield, were also deeply entangled in the family's dark history. The crimes discussed in this episode raise chilling questions about the full extent of their horrific actions as we explore the twisted family dynamics and shocking discoveries. This episode concludes with an exclusive interview with Warren Skeels, the director of the upcoming film The Man In The White Van, based upon Mansfield, Jr's crimes and premiering December 13th, 2024.If you are interested in bonus content for our show or in getting some Coffee and Cases swag, please consider joining Patreon. There are various levels to fit your needs, all of which can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/coffeeandcases