Quick Take:
Nestled in Happy Valley between Granite and Branciforte Creeks, this stately Victorian home will take your breath away....
Good Morning! It’s Tuesday, June 29 and we’re in for a mostly sunny day with a high of 79.
Just as things were starting to feel “normal” again, a new threat is rearing its ugly head: Santa Cruz County just identified its first case of the Delta variant that’s spreading like wildfire across California. Meanwhile, little more than a year after a gun battle in the Santa Cruz mountains led to the death of a deputy and the arrest of Steven Carrillo, his case will proceed to trial.
Here are your headlines:
Steven Carrillo is headed to trial. Re-read his most illuminating jail-house interview
Steven Carrillo, the man accused of killing Santa Cruz County’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller last year, will be headed to trial after a court appearance yesterday, according to media reports. Earlier this year, our partners at ProPublica sat down with Carrillo for a jailhouse interview that revealed shocking details about the events of last June. “I just want to say, the Boogaloo movement, you know, there’s a lot in the paper that I feel like people don’t understand,” he said. Read the full story here.
Santa Cruz County just identified its first Delta variant case. What you need to know
Santa Cruz public health official Dr. David Ghillarducci told Lookout yesterday that a person who was first tested on June 10 was confirmed to be the first positive case of the highly contagious Delta variant in the county. This comes as the variant has quickly become one of the most common forms of the virus prevalent in California. We are working today to get more details about the local case but in the meantime, here’s what you should know about the variant.
RELATED: The new ‘Delta-plus’ coronavirus variant has been identified. What does that mean? (LA Times)
California drought
Summer dreams dry up on the Russian River, a paradise whipsawed by drought, flood and fire: The Russian River area holds a panoply of California treasures: majestic redwoods, ocean mists, summer sun, famed wineries, breweries and a casual, come-as-you-are culture that mixes high-brow with hippie and a bit of barn party. It also sits at the center of climate-related disasters. Read more from the LA Times here.
An entire California town was without running water — in a heatwave: This is how California’s water crisis is going these days: The only functioning well in a rural Central Valley community broke in early June, leaving more than 700 residents without running water as temperatures in the Central Valley soared to triple-digits in a drought. Now, authorities are hauling in bottles and jugs of water to help residents. Read more here.
READ ALSO: California’s drought and wildfire dangers rising at stunning pace (LA Times)
Around the state…
California’s eviction moratorium extension: What’s in it for tenants and landlords? California renters, who are still struggling to pay the rent even as the pandemic wanes, will be shielded from eviction through Sept. 30, under a last-minute deal announced last week by Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders. What does that mean for tenants and landlords? Who is eligible for rent relief? Find answers in this story from our partners at CalMatters.
Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox proposes plan on California homelessness: Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox is revealing his four-point plan to reduce homelessness. “Solving homelessness in California requires new, bold ideas. It requires a new way of thinking and shaking up the status quo,” Cox’s policy proposal says. Read more from the LA Times here.
Around the county…
Santa Cruz storage facility fire linked to electrical short (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Scotts Valley police seek community help to identify mail theft suspect (KION-TV)
Three cars damaged in suspected hit-and-run in Watsonville (The Pajaronian)
That’s it for today. If you’re enjoying our coverage, please tell your family and friends about our Lookout Newsletter & Text Center, where they can sign up for all the newsletters and alerts we offer. You can also keep tabs on everything we’re publishing through the day by bookmarking our website and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Have a great day!
Tulsi Kamath
Managing Editor