KSCO's dedicated news staff brings local news to life from 6am- 1pm & 4pm - 6pm M-F.
Susan Simon (News Director) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
David Coursey - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Claudia Iseman - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phillip Diseth - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Josh Stephens - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Any News Tips Please Feel Free to Call Us: 831-475-1080
A Watsonville man was arrested Wednesday after he attempted to rob a bank claiming he had a bomb on him. A bank manager was able to detain the man, 59-year old Mark Smith by having him fill out a loan application while officers arrived. Officers responded to the bank on the 700 block of East Lake Avenue around 4:30 p.m. Smith was taken into custody on suspicion of attempted robbery, making a criminal threat and a false bomb threat.
A public forum will be held this month in Santa Cruz to discuss the qualities, values and vision residents want in the city’s next police chief. The forum, hosted by the city manager’s office, will take place on September 22nd in the Police Department Community Room on 155 Center Street from 7 to 9 p.m. Residents are also welcome to take part in an online survey about the chief search. The survey opens today and continues through the end of the month. Visit www.surveymonkey.com to participate.
Legislation was approved by the governor yesterday that will keep dangerous sexual predators in prison for life. Assembly Bill 18-44, also known as Chelsea’s Law, grew out of 2 similar tragedies after 17-year old Chelsea King, was murdered in San Diego in February. A convicted child molester was sentenced to life in prison without parole less than 3 months later for killing King and 14-year old Amber DuBois. Under the new law, some of the worst offenders will face lifetime prison sentences – a punishment recently reserved in California for murderers.
A fire that erupted from a ruptured high pressure gas main in San Bruno yesterday afternoon is now 50% contained. Area residents say they felt a loud explosion just before flames erupted just after 6 p.m. between Skyline Boulevard and Sneath Lane near Highway-280. 53 homes have been destroyed and roughly 120 have been damaged in the Rollingwood / Crestmoor Development area. 10 acres have burned so far. At least 3 people have been confirmed dead, nearly 30 have been hospitalized and an unknown number of others are injured. Pacific Gas and Electric officials have confirmed that the explosion was caused by a 24 inch gas transmission line that ruptured sending a fireball has high as 1,000 feet into the air. Fire crews from all over the country are responding, meanwhile a state of emergency has been declared for California.
Dozens of homes are engulfed in flames as firefighters in the Bay Area are currently battling an out-of-control blaze burning on a San Bruno hillside. Area residents reportedly felt a loud explosion just before flames erupted at about 6 p.m. this evening between Skyline Boulevard and Sneath Lane near Highway-280. Roughly over 40 homes are said to be engulfed in flames in the Rollingwood / Crestmoor Development areas. Pacific Gas and Electric officials have confirmed the explosion was caused by a 24 inch natural gas main that ruptured. Engines from Santa Cruz are being deployed as a backup. An emergency shelter has been set up at the San Bruno Recreation Center at 251 City Park Way in San Bruno. The number for the Recreation Center is 650-616-7180. No injuries have been reported. A voluntary evacuation order is in place.