Two persons, both unvaccinated and in their 70s, died last week from COVID-19 symptoms. They were the first confirmed coronavirus-related deaths in Santa Cruz County since June 1.
Posted inPandemic Life
‘A little strange’: Tokyo Olympics were a showcase of resilience amid an attempt at normalcy
With virtually all fans shut out from attending, the Tokyo Olympics had a sterile feel that often muted the outstanding accomplishments of the athletes. The competition sometimes felt like sports in a laboratory. Reverse somersaults, double layouts and three-point shots were greeted with silence or, worse, the echoed clapping of a half-dozen teammates.
Posted inPandemic Life
Santa Cruz’s outdoor wedding boom: After the pandemic pause, demand for that special place, day is surging
After a period of uncertainty that put traditional large weddings on hold, couples and those who help them put together the perfect day are finding creative ways to make things safe and special. Lookout turned to the experts to see what was going on.
Posted inCOVID Today
Wary of ‘breakthrough’ infections, some vaccinated people eye another shot. Is it needed?
Health officials say they’re largely unnecessary and the primary focus should be getting the unvaccinated to roll up their sleeves.
Posted inCOVID Today
How Simone Biles’ bravery on mental health can help California heal from COVID-19
A majority of Black Americans believe having a mental health condition is a sign of weakness. Biles and other athletes are changing the narrative. Erika D. Smith believes that just as Biles has inspired many in the sports world, she may inspire other Black people to be more proactive about addressing their mental health — and at a time when the need to do so has never been greater.
Posted inUncategorized
The man who laughed through loss, wasted no time & found himself in literature: A eulogy for Fred Reiss
Last week, Fred Reiss ran out of time. The long-time Santa Cruz-based writer, comedian, and radio personality finally died of cancer, with which he was involved in a ferocious years-long battle. Cancer took his life at the age of 66. Wallace Baine shares his fond memories of Fred.
Posted inEnvironment
‘We knew there was no saving it’: Gold Rush-era town gone, leaving broken hearts, broken dreams
Greenville, a Gold Rush town dating to the 19th century, rebuilt after an 1881 fire. Now it has been destroyed by the Dixie fire, California’s largest this year.
Posted inCOVID Today
The pandemic’s real toll on seniors: Nursing homes got the focus but many more suffered, research shows
The latest research shows that although deaths in nursing homes received enormous attention, far more older adults who perished from COVID lived outside of institutions. People with dementia and other severe neurological conditions, chronic kidney disease and immune deficiencies were hit especially hard.
Posted inEnvironment
Amid worsening drought, Lake Oroville’s record-low water level forces shutdown of hydroelectric power plant
California water officials have shut down of a major hydroelectric powerplant at Lake Oroville in Northern California, citing the lowest-ever recorded water level.
Posted inCoast Life
‘This is not acceptable’: Newsom, in recall fight, takes rare candid stance on state’s unhoused situation
In a rare extended interview on homelessness, Gov. Gavin Newsom applauded the removal of homeless camps from Echo Park Lake and Venice Beach in Los Angeles, staking out a position that reflects a change in the political dialogue about homelessness in California.