Tuesday marks the final day of Watsonville activist Omar Dieguez’s monthlong hunger strike to protest the application of pesticides near schools in the Pajaro Valley. On Friday, Dieguez checked into the hospital after experiencing intense stomach pain, but told Lookout that he’s feeling better and on track to finish out his fast.
Tania Ortiz
Tania Ortiz joins Lookout Santa Cruz as the California Local News Fellow to cover South County. Tania earned her master’s degree in journalism in December 2023 from Syracuse University, where she was a Newhouse Diversity News Fellow. In Syracuse, she covered life and culture for Syracuse.com, writing features on local artists and organizations making an impact on the community.
While studying for her master’s, Tania also reported on feminist collectives in Mexico and their efforts to support families of femicide victims as a Pulitzer Center grantee. She’s also written for other publications such as the Charleston City Paper, The South Side Stand and the Los Angeles Journal.
Originally from Oceanside, Tania is excited to be reporting in her home state after living on the East Coast for two years. She looks forward to learning more about Santa Cruz County and connecting with the community through her reporting.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
County supervisors will take up Watsonville battery storage plant safety issues Nov. 18
After the Moss Landing battery plant fire, New Leaf Energy’s plan to build a storage facility outside Watsonville has gotten more controversial. As Santa Cruz County’s environment commission finalizes its recommendations, the board of supervisors will decide how to move forward in November.
Posted inLatest News
Telemundo 23 ends its local news, leaving Central Coast without a Spanish-language newscast
KION’s Spanish-language affiliate Telemundo 23, also based in Salinas, abruptly shuttered its newsroom on Tuesday, leaving the Central Coast without a Spanish newscast.
Posted inLatest News
Telemundo 23 pone fin a sus noticias locales, dejando a la Costa Central sin noticiero en español
La filial en español de KION, Telemundo 23, con sede en Salinas, cerró abruptamente su sala de redacción el martes, dejando a la Costa Central sin un noticiero en español.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville City Council approves city’s first homelessness strategic plan
The Watsonville City Council voted to adopt the city’s first homelessness strategic plan at its meeting Tuesday night. The plan outlines the city’s approach to reducing homelessness and connecting unhoused residents to social services.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Watsonville leaders say controversial plan to expand license plate readers won’t undermine city’s sanctuary status
Watsonville officials are defending their city’s immigration sanctuary reputation amid an outcry from residents over a plan to nearly double the use of Flock Safety’s license plate surveillance cameras.
Posted inHousing & Development
‘A covenant of hope’: Watsonville’s tiny village homeless housing on track for December opening
On Friday, local officials got their first look at the 34-unit tiny village in Watsonville, which will house up to 36 homeless residents from the Pajaro River levee. The project, a collaboration between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, is nearly complete and on track to open toward the end of the year.
Posted inEducation
Watsonville activist says school district ‘blocking’ him from speaking to students about pesticide harms
Activist Omar Dieguez told Lookout that Pajaro Valley Unified School District is not allowing him to present to students about the harms of pesticides during his monthlong hunger strike.
Posted inEducation
Aptos High aims to reopen Friday after experiencing prolonged power outages
Aptos High School canceled class Thursday as crews work to restore power to the campus after a prolonged outage that began on Saturday. A district spokesperson told Lookout that the school is aiming to reopen on Friday.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Fatigue sets in for Watsonville activist on Day 17 of hunger strike protesting pesticides near schools
Watsonville activist Omar Dieguez told Lookout that he’s feeling tired, but is still motivated and supported to continue the rest of his 30-day hunger strike in protest of pesticide use near schools.