ICYMI: The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors rejected an appeal filed by Live Oak residents to stop a 57-unit housing project that used the state builder's remedy mechanism, which allows the project to override local approval.

Watsonville is the first city in Santa Cruz County to prohibit the use of city-owned facilities for federal immigration enforcement. It follows in the footsteps of cities such as San Jose and Santa Clara, which have adopted similar policies.

Pacific Elementary Superintendent Eric Gross is pitching an ambitious plan to purchase and redevelop the long-shuttered 172-acre Davenport cement plant into a new school campus with workforce housing and public safety facilities, backed by an anonymous local philanthropist.

ICYMI: Jeffery's, the nearly 50-year-old diner at Capitola Road and Soquel Avenue, abruptly closed Jan. 28, leaving longtime customers searching for answers.

Grey Bears transformed its Live Oak warehouse into a lively senior dating mixer Friday, drawing nearly 100 older adults. The event reflects the nonprofit’s broader mission to combat food insecurity and loneliness among Santa Cruz County’s growing senior population.

OPINION: Ava Thornock grew up in Amador County, an education desert three hours from Santa Cruz that has no local college and limited internet access. She saw firsthand how rural students are cut off from opportunity.

Want Lookout in your inbox? Hit the link below to check out our library of newsletters (coming first thing tomorrow, for instance, is the specially curated Sunday Reads) and breaking news alerts – all free.

ICYMI: In a contentious meeting marked by repeated disruptions, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board voted to issue a two-week stay-away letter barring Trustee Gabe Medina from Pajaro Valley High School after he confronted the principal during a student walkout last month.

Lookout spoke with Sarai Jimenez, the teacher who in January posted a pro-ICE comment on social media, prompting a flurry of angry posts on Watsonville internet groups.

Have something to say about issues facing Santa Cruz County? Make your voice heard with a letter to the editor.

A body recovered in the Santa Cruz Mountains last month is that of Jeanne Burke, the 73-year-old woman who went missing in November, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office confirmed in a news release Saturday.

ICYMI: About three years after he wrapped up his second term as District 3 county supervisor, longtime Santa Cruz politico Ryan Coonerty returns to electoral politics with a run for Santa Cruz mayor in 2026.

Hurray for the long weekend – make some plans with BOLO, your place to go for things to do around Santa Cruz County.

Parallel Flight Technologies has enlisted help in adapting its Firefly drone for maritime environments, Jessica M. Pasko reports in this week's look around Santa Cruz County business.

Building homes inside a factory has long been seen as a way to revolutionize the American housing industry, ushering in a new era of higher-quality homes at lower prices. That dream has never quite panned out. Can California finally make it happen?

Rain is expected to roll into Santa Cruz County on Saturday night and linger into the following Friday, with the majority of the rainfall coming between Saturday night and Wednesday morning. National Weather Service meteorologists do not anticipate having to issue any flood advisories or watches.

Scotts Valley Recreation, in collaboration with the city’s arts commission, is asking residents of Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley to submit their poetry and art for this year’s Expressions of the Valley poetry and art contest.

Tony Nuñez se postula para el puesto del Distrito 4 en la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Santa Cruz. Nuñez es el presidente de la junta del Distrito de Atención Médica del Valle de Pájaro, que opera el Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville, y trabaja para la organización Community Bridges.

Tony Nuñez, a longtime community leader and ex-journalist, is running for the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors 4th District seat. Nuñez is the board chair of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District, which operates Watsonville Community Hospital, and works for nonprofit Community Bridges.

Actors' Theatre's signature festival wraps up this weekend – check out reviews from Jana Marcus.

Valentine's Day is tomorrow – check out Lily Belli's guide to local sweet treats.

A bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers has introduced 10 bills, an unprecedented package designed to stop deadly drivers.

One stop for all of Lookout's Friday morning headlines – check out stories from Lillian Schrock-Clevenger, Max Chun, Cecilia Schutz, Kevin Painchaud, Lily Belli and plenty more.

Making some plans for the long weekend? Check out a recommendation from Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout's free BOLO events calendar.

FROM THURSDAY: State fish and game officials declared mountain lions on the Central Coast and in Southern California threatened under the state’s endangered species act.

After President Donald Trump rescinded the legal foundation for U.S. climate policy, California is preparing to sue — and could try to write its own rules.

Multiple downtown Santa Cruz businesses say foot traffic is down since the city broke ground on the new public library and affordable housing project last August, eliminating a parking lot for customers and visitors.

The Capitola City Council approved plans for pavement rehabilitation and various striping and multimodal improvements to 41st Avenue at its Thursday meeting. The work is expected to cost $1.6 to $2.1 million.

Firefighters, police officers and community members held the City of Santa Cruz’s third annual flag replacement ceremony at the town clock plaza on Pacific Avenue to honor Presidents Day.

With the Presidents Day long weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County, with a recommendation from Lookout correspondent Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout's BOLO events calendar.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a civil rights investigation Thursday into how delayed evacuations affected a historically Black community ravaged by one of last year's deadly wildfires in Altadena.

State fish and game officials declared mountain lions on the Central Coast and in Southern California threatened under the state’s endangered species act.

Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out in Santa Cruz County this long Presidents Day/Valentine's Day weekend.

In the market for some sweets for your sweetie? Check out these recommendations from Lily Belli.

Make your voice heard on Santa Cruz County issues with a letter to the editor.

Check out what's coming to Santa Cruz County clear into September, including new shows at the Quarry Amphitheater, Felton Music Hall, Moe's Alley, The Catalyst, the Rio and more.

After 2024 losses, Democrats are split on strategy: move to the middle or embrace economic populism. A Central Valley congressional race encapsulates the divide.

All of Lookout's Thursday morning headlines in one spot – news from Tania Ortiz, Hillary Ojeda, Max Chun, Ashley Palma-Jimenez, Jessica M. Pasko and more, plus Community Voices opinion on Housing Matters' cuts to homeless day services.

The Trump administration has targeted grants aimed at helping fund public health workforce and disease monitoring in California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota. Ending these grants could result in layoffs and worse health outcomes, according to a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Rob Bonta.

La ciudad de Watsonville es la primera en el condado de Santa Cruz en prohibir el uso de instalaciones municipales para la aplicación de leyes civiles de inmigración. Watsonville sigue los pasos de ciudades como San José y Santa Clara, que también han adoptado políticas similares.

Listings of homes for sale in Santa Cruz County more than doubled compared to December as real estate agents prepare for the market’s usual spring heat-up, with Silicon Valley trends pointing to a potentially busy spring.

In a contentious meeting marked by repeated disruptions, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board voted to issue a two-week stay-away letter barring Trustee Gabe Medina from Pajaro Valley High School after he confronted the principal during a student walkout last month.

Watsonville is the first city in Santa Cruz County to prohibit the use of city-owned facilities for federal immigration enforcement. It follows in the footsteps of cities such as San Jose and Santa Clara, which have adopted similar policies.

OPINION: Housing Matters board chair Ray Bramson’s recent Lookout op-ed twists the narrative on homeless day services at the Santa Cruz nonprofit, writes advocate David Davis.

After a monthlong contest to select a theme that celebrates the nation’s 250th birthday, the Santa Cruz County Fair has one for its 2026 edition: “Apple Pies and Starry Skies!”

Since the philanthropist came on board, Gross’ conversations with stakeholders such as the local unit chief for Cal Fire, the Santa Cruz County sheriff and community organizations have been positive: “Instead of laughing me off the stage, they keep saying, ‘Hey, that’s a good idea.’”

As Americans gear up to spend a record $29.1 billion on Valentine’s Day, Santa Cruz County bakeries are offering maximalist, joy-sparking desserts.

A packed set of Wednesday morning headlines from Lookout, with news from Hillary Ojeda, Tania Ortiz, Max Chun, Lily Belli, Jessica M. Pasko, Cecilia Schutz and more.

Pacific Elementary Superintendent Eric Gross is pitching an ambitious plan to purchase and redevelop the long-shuttered 172-acre Davenport cement plant into a new school campus with workforce housing and public safety facilities, backed by an anonymous local philanthropist.

Pajaro Valley Unified School District board members will decide at Wednesday night's meeting whether to restrict fellow trustee Gabe Medina from the Pajaro Valley High School campus after he had an argument with the principal late last month.