Santa Cruz News

The Federal Housing Administration has announced it will suspend its emergency loan limit, reducing the maximum home loan amount from $729,750 to $625,500 in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties starting Jan. 1. This is an appropriate step as the housing market recovers, Housing commissioner Carol Galante said Friday.

A California contractor launches an online construction guild, and then uses his newfound web expertise to write a book for builders Mike Hartrich's new digitally published book is a guide for tradespeople who want to take advantage of social media but aren't sure how to get started.

Image of NGC 6872 and companion galaxy IC 4970 locked in a tango as the two galaxies gravitationally interact.

Jill Alexander Designs for size 12 and up now can be found on Amazon.com along with such well-known brands as Calvin Klein Plus and DKNY Plus.

In a scientific tour de force, researchers analyzing a scrap of bone from an ancient human have extracted DNA at least 300,000 years old, more than double the age of the next-oldest genetic material found.

Authorities have not yet named a man found dead in an Aptos house fire because DNA and medical records must be used to identify him, deputies said Monday.

More than 30 motor, sail and rowboats participated in the 28th annual Lighted Boat Parade at Santa Cruz Harbor Saturday.

In 1900, at age 10, Nick Borina left behind his family in Croatia to come to the U.S. accompanied only by neighbors from the poverty-stricken village of Osojnik.

California Rural Legal Assistance, UC Santa Cruz and UC Hastings College of Law are launching a project in early January aimed at taking a "snapshot" of Santa Cruz County's low-wage workers.

In the black of night I swore I saw a flicker of light where the night sky meets the dark sea.

After Bahlbi Gebrekristos woke up and noticed his hands had turned white from the cold, he made a point of getting into a local shelter for the night.

Male elephant seals recognize the unique calls of their rivals, helping them know when to fight or flee, new research suggests.

Two male southern elephant seals clash over a harem. This photograph won the behavioral and physiological ecology category in the BMC Ecology photography contest of 2013.

Meeting Information Agenda Packet The Desalination Task Force consists of two members of the Soquel Creek Water District Board and two members of the City of Santa Cruz City Council.

Nate Bennett, 41, agreed to have electrodes implanted in his brain in an effort to identify the source of debilitating seizures.

Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents The Original Santa Cruz Nutcracker , a favorite holiday tradition! Featuring Maestra Pamela Martin conducting the Ballet Orchestra, and guest artists Melody Mennite and Joseph Walsh, both principal dancers with Houston Ballet.

I don't know if it is the recent change in time or what but lately, I am noticing more and more bike riders at dusk -- and just beyond -- riding without adequate lights on their bicycles.

This Christmas season, one Santa Cruz girl is doing more than making a list of toys and gadgets she'd like to see under the tree.

The Santa Cruz Seaside Co. plans $1 million in improvements to the Beach Boardwalk customer lot this winter to alleviate traffic congestion and create additional parking in the Main Beach area.

The business model is simple yet stark: Forward fund the 2014 season between now and January 15, 2014 so that your favorite actors and directors can be hired, and future revenues can fund 2015.