The Community Traffic Safety Coalition’s crash report from September shows that deaths and serious injuries on the road have decreased in recent years, although the problem remains serious overall.
Bonny Doon / Davenport
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County Measure E: What to know about the proposed temporary half-cent sales tax
Santa Cruz County’s Measure E would impose a five-year, half-cent sales tax increase expected to raise about $27 million annually to help address a worsening budget outlook and potential losses in healthcare and other safety-net funding.
Posted inVisual Story
Cal Fire conducts 48-acre prescribed burn at Swanton Pacific Ranch to reduce wildfire risk
Cal Fire’s CZU unit conducted a prescribed burn Thursday morning at Swanton Pacific Ranch near Highway 1 in northern Santa Cruz County, burning approximately 48 acres in partnership with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to improve forest health, enhance wildlife habitat and reduce wildfire risk.
Posted inWestside / Downtown
Santa Cruz County Election 2026: Get the latest news, candidate forums and fact-checks
Ballots are heading out to Santa Cruz County voters this week — and Lookout’s election coverage is in full swing. From covering the Santa Cruz mayoral race to hosting and co-hosting forums across Watsonville, Capitola, or Felton, Lookout is committed to digging into the issues and questions that matter to voters. As always, Lookout election coverage is free, so we’ll be here throughout the campaign and after the votes are counted, too.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Santa Cruz shaped Ben Flocks’ jazz career. Now he’s returning to Kuumbwa
Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band alum, saxophonist and music educator Ben Flocks will return to Santa Cruz on Thursday to perform songs from his new album, “Moonshades,” joined by Billy Mohler and Jay Bellerose.
Posted inInside Lookout
Lookout in the Community: October events & ways to connect
With next month’s midterm elections on the horizon and Halloween fast approaching, the months are flying by! Luckily, October hosts an abundance of opportunities for locals to stay connected and informed, so don’t be scared of missing out on anything this spooky season. Including a Trivia Night hosted by Wallace Baine and two public forums, here are some places you’ll find Lookout in the month to come.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Step inside: The magic of Santa Cruz County Open Studios
Open Studios has begun. For the first three weekends of October, Santa Cruz County artists are opening their studios — inviting us into the places where the work gets made. This year, close to 350 artists are participating, including 69 newcomers, with a new preview exhibit at MK Gallery offering a first look at what’s to come. There’s also a new app to help art lovers find artists and plan their studio-hopping adventures across the county. We stepped inside the preview to meet some of the artists and get a taste of the work and creative energy waiting behind those studio doors.
Posted inInside Lookout
Stepping away from the desk and giving back with Second Harvest Food Bank
This past week, five members of Lookout Santa Cruz volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, filling over 200 bags of groceries for local families. The experience provided the opportunity to engage with the work and community members which Lookout Santa Cruz tells stories about every day, and served as a reminder that giving back doesn’t need to be complicated. Simply asking “How can I help?” can go a long way in helping local families, and even inspire others to do the same.
Posted inInside Lookout
Inside Lookout: What’s ahead this fall, from election coverage to a new arts correspondent
From a new arts correspondent to a newsroom gearing up for election season, there’s a lot ahead at Lookout Santa Cruz this fall. Executive Editor Richard Martin shares what’s new, what the newsroom is working on and how you can connect with the journalists behind the coverage.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County’s heat wave, one job at a time
As a heat wave gripped the region, Lookout journalists spoke with workers from Santa Cruz to Capitola to Watsonville about how they were getting through it, shift by shift.
