More than 16,000 runners took part in the 54th annual Wharf to Wharf Race on Sunday, making their way along the iconic 6-mile course from Live Oak to the Santa Cruz Harbor to Capitola under near-perfect weather.
Visual Story
Posted inVisual Story
Meet the Santa Cruz swimmer who rewrote the record book at the Special Olympics USA Games
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.
Posted inVisual Story
Preparing for the unthinkable: Local first responders drill at Soquel High for mass-casualty incident
Law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel are participating in Santa Cruz County’s five-day active-shooter response training this week at Soquel High School. The annual exercise, hosted by the sheriff’s office, brings together about 150 officers and more than 80 firefighters to practice coordinated response to a simulated mass-casualty incident.
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Built for the next fire: How Glenwood hand crews are preparing for wildfire season
At Glenwood Fire Center, Cal Fire hand crews prepare for the next wildfire season in Santa Cruz County.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Downtown after dark: Portraits from Santa Cruz Halloween 2025
For the fourth year, photographer Jana Marcus set up her lights and camera on Halloween to capture portraits from Santa Cruz’s Pacific Avenue in all its chaotic, festive and nocturnal glory.
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Photo essay: 15,000 turn out for Halloween on Pacific Avenue
Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud took in the sights, sounds and scares of Halloween on Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz, where an estimated 15,000 people turned out for some ghoulish fun.
Posted inVisual Story
‘No Kings’ in photos: Pictures from Saturday’s rallies across Santa Cruz County
The streets of Santa Cruz and Watsonville were filled with protesters on Saturday for “No Kings” rallies against Trump administration policies. Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud was on hand to capture the scene in both cities.
Posted inLatest News
Street view: Santa Cruz County residents split on $4.3 billion train and trail
Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud took to the streets to talk to residents about their perspectives on the planned passenger train and 32-mile coastal trail, whether they would regularly use either, and if they would support higher sales taxes to help pay for the ambitious projects.
Posted inVisual Story
CZU then and now, in photos: From fire’s devastation, a picture of resilience in Santa Cruz Mountains
Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud describes what he saw in the days and weeks after the CZU Lightning Complex fire ignited in 2020 and the resilience of Santa Cruz Mountains communities in the five years since.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Photo essay: Tuning up at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud goes behind the scenes at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, happening through Sunday at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.
