Several Santa Cruz County projects are receiving a boost as part of a $2.5 billion transit funding package that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced on Thursday. buff.ly/lfbBUnf

Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out in Santa Cruz County this weekend.

With the weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County with a recommendation from Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout's BOLO events calendar. buff.ly/3qlHMkw

Lots of new listings just added, with shows at Moe's Alley, Felton Music Hall, The Catalyst and elsewhere, author appearances at Bookshop Santa Cruz and more.

All of Lookout's Thursday morning headlines in one place, with stories from Max Chun, Mat Weir, Lily Belli and more, plus Community Voices opinion from clean energy advocates.

A new federal law requires colleges to prove that their graduates earn more than someone with only a high school diploma or else students could lose access to federal loans. About 300 California programs could fail the test, including many cosmetology and some arts programs.

FROM WEDNESDAY: Homeless Garden Project cleared the final major regulatory hurdle to purchasing the 4-acre Natural Bridges Farm it has leased on Santa Cruz's Westside for three decades, paving the way for the nonprofit to establish the first permanent home in its 36-year history.

Purrrrrrfest returns Saturday to the Blue Lagoon, bringing four local metal bands together to raise money for the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter's Bogey Fund, which helps black cats find homes. The quirky benefit concert has grown into a beloved community tradition now in its sixth year.

The City of Santa Cruz is working to wrap up permitting and land acquisition processes for a project that involves relocating a section of West Cliff Drive farther inland to improve public safety and coastal access well into the future as coastal erosion remains a chief concern.

OPINION: Artificial intelligence data centers are poised to transform California's electric grid — but they might also rescue rooftop solar from years of political backlash, say clean-energy advocates Angela Lipanovich, an attorney, and Jenny Folkesson, a computer scientist.

Homeless Garden Project cleared the final major regulatory hurdle to purchasing the 4-acre Natural Bridges Farm it has leased on Santa Cruz's Westside for three decades, paving the way for the nonprofit to establish the first permanent home in its 36-year history. lookout.co/homeless-gar...

Make some midweek plans with BOLO, Lookout's free, searchable events calendar – your place to go for things to do all over Santa Cruz County.

Check out Wednesday morning's Lookout headlines, with stories from Jessica M. Pasko, Caly Luna Plowman, Kevin Painchaud, Hillary Ojeda, Lily Belli and more.

This fall, UCSC is slated to open the Delaware Apartments on the Westside for 350 upper-division undergraduate students and more than 60 employees. And during the 2026-27 year, the university expects to complete the Kresge College renovation, expanding its number of student beds from 395 to 993.

Just one year after returning to competitive swimming, Santa Cruz's Jessa Melcer became a record-breaking Special Olympics USA Games champion. Her journey from local pools to the national podium showcases the determination, confidence and community support behind her success.

Jessica M. Pasko crunches the latest county jobs numbers, notes Bookie's Pizza's impending move to a new Pacific Avenue development and highlights other local comings and goings in her latest business roundup. lookout.co/this-week-in...

Driven by a rise in national ICE-involved deaths, Santa Cruz community members gathered to honor two men killed during separate traffic stops over the past week. Organizers said the vigil is part of an ongoing effort to stand in solidarity with those targeted by aggressive immigration enforcement.

The new federal housing law does a lot of little things. Supporters hope it will put a dent in both California and the nation's housing shortage. buff.ly/ELJvvPt

Businesses operating in Santa Cruz County must register with the county clerk. Lookout Santa Cruz reviews the public filings from local businesses to report on new businesses starting in the area. buff.ly/SY1P8q2

A big next step for Homeless Garden Project, a move downtown for Bookie's Pizza, renowned culinary minds joining forces at Bookshop Santa Cruz – find all that and plenty more in Lily Belli's Tuesday newsletter.

UC Santa Cruz will begin offering two years of guaranteed housing to its new undergraduate students starting this fall. buff.ly/HTqvLRg

Get Tuesday headlines from Lily Belli, Jana Marcus, Max Chun, Caly Luna Plowman and more, plus Community Voices opinion from Community Bridges CEO Raymon Cancino.

A talented cast gives its all, but uneven direction, sluggish pacing and a surprisingly forgettable score keep Cabrillo Stage's “Sister Act” from reaching the joyous heights the musical promises, Jana Marcus writes in her latest theater review. lookout.co/cabrillo-sta...

Homeless Garden Project is one step closer to owning its longtime Natural Bridges Farm after years of hurdles, with a key zoning decision this week that, if approved, would clear the way for the nonprofit to purchase the 4-acre property and begin construction on a permanent home as early as 2027.

The Santa Cruz Metro board of directors decided against advancing its own resolution to place a half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot, citing cost concerns and little time to build and promote an effective campaign.

Housing Matters announced that its $5 million Live Oak Landing interim housing program was officially open and would be welcoming participants immediately, stating that construction finished months ago but there had been final permitting and occupancy approval delays.

OPINION: Raymon Cancino, CEO of Santa Cruz County nonprofit Community Bridges, points out a big failure in our community – our inability to connect needy people to the services they need.

The Santa Cruz Metro board is holding a public hearing on its proposed ballot measure at 11 a.m. Monday, where it could decide whether or not to move it forward to the county board of supervisors in August. lookout.co/carmageddon-...

The Santa Cruz County housing market looks similar to what it did last month, as inventory and sales remain high during the summer months. However, the war in Iran has heated up yet again, bringing more uncertainty into the economy and, by association, mortgage rates. lookout.co/santa-cruz-h...

California’s fishing fleet is graying and shrinking. An apprenticeship aimed at reviving it showed the obstacles to sustaining locally caught fish. lookout.co/many-califor...

Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out in Santa Cruz County this weekend.

With the weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County with a recommendation from Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout's BOLO events calendar. lookout.co/best-of-sant...

Thursday morning headlines from Lookout Santa Cruz.

A couple of hundred new tenants will be moving in next door, but is that good or bad for a used-car business? lookout.co/between-a-lo...

The increased competition between California's universities and community colleges shows why the state needs to update its 56-year-old higher education plan, writes CalMatters columnist Dan Walters. lookout.co/academic-tur...

The body of a 16-year-old boy from Capitola was pulled from the water near the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf on Monday morning. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, though no foul play is suspected at this time. lookout.co/sheriffs-off...

A California bill would require community colleges with health centers to provide access to medication abortion if lawmakers provide funding. Health center directors say many campuses lack the staffing and infrastructure to offer the service. lookout.co/abortion-pil...

Jessica M. Pasko gives you the latest in local business news, including Joby Aviation and Toyota expanding their partnership, Driscoll's facing a new class action lawsuit over pesticide use, and upcoming events. lookout.co/this-week-in...

A monthly roundup of Santa Cruz County dining highlights celebrates the start of summer with four finds: a barley and kale salad in Davenport, a smash burger at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and a blue corn cookie and poke bowl in Santa Cruz. lookout.co/the-best-thi...

The latest in Santa Cruz County food & drink from Lookout correspondent Lily Belli.

On Wednesday, June 24, Lookout staff had the opportunity to volunteer at Friendship Park at Harvey West Park, and it served as a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose. lookout.co/serving-beyo...

Businesses operating in Santa Cruz County must register with the county clerk. Lookout Santa Cruz reviews the public filings from local businesses to report on new businesses starting in the area. lookout.co/santa-cruz-c...

Tuesday morning headlines from Lookout Santa Cruz.

Watsonville City Council will decide whether to make changes to its camping ordinance, establishing “no encampment zones” in areas such the Struve Slough, the Pajaro River levee and other public spaces around the city. lookout.co/watsonville-...

Joe Ortiz transforms the chaos of his 1950s childhood into an exuberant musical memoir filled with unforgettable songs, powerhouse performances from Lori Rivera and Adam Saucedo, and enough heart to earn a sold-out opening-night audience's standing ovation. lookout.co/big-voices-b...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is gearing up to begin the next phase of its Moss Landing cleanup efforts, following a massive January 2025 fire that damaged a large portion of a battery storage facility. lookout.co/moss-landing...

After 44 years serving Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monterey Bay is shutting down its mentoring program, leaving many mentors and mentees shocked and searching for answers.

OPINION: Angelica Glass set out to walk every street in Santa Cruz County for exercise and stress reduction. Nearly 2,900 miles later, she’d discovered hidden beauty, unexpected wildlife, dislodged childhood memories — and a whole new way of seeing the place she'd called home for decades.

Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out around Santa Cruz County this long holiday weekend.

With the long holiday weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County with a recommendation from Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout's BOLO events calendar. buff.ly/FHyf6N9