Quick Take:

The man, known as Blake by those close to him, was a day-services participant at Housing Matters. The official cause of...

Hiya, folks. It’s Thursday, Jan. 26, and another sunny day has dawned around Santa Cruz County, with temperatures headed again into the mid-60s.

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An unhoused man was found dead outside the Coral Street campus of Santa Cruz nonprofit Housing Matters on Wednesday, Max Chun reports, with one acquaintance saying the cold weather was a major factor. “A lot of people say it’s not possible to die of exposure in Santa Cruz,” Shannon Vudmaska said, “but it is.”

At UC Santa Cruz, the new student-body president is seeking to mend fences after his predecessor was removed last fall. “Meeting students where they’re at” is the approach, Jimmy Gomez tells Hillary Ojeda.

The chefs behind the likes of Reef Dog Deli, Trestles and Home are organizing a Feb. 6 dinner at Shadowbrook to help workers idled amid the storm damage in Capitola Village — and Lily Belli has details on how to get tickets and much more.

And in our Community Voices opinion section, columnist Claudia Sternbach writes that recent mass shootings, including those in Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park, only underline that in the United States, “our love of guns has eclipsed our love of life. We can’t deny it.”

Let’s have a look at the headlines.

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Alec Baldwin, I get you — it’s time to call bull on those who say guns are safe

Alec Baldwin is seen on set immediately following the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and director Joel Souza

Lookout columnist Claudia Sternbach understands Alec Baldwin, at least a little. At least his stunned, nauseated reaction after he accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins while filming “Rust” in October 2021. Sternbach, too, has felt sick this week, as tragedies in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay enveloped us. Read her full Community Voices opinion piece here.

➤ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Make your voice heard and read what Santa Cruzans are saying

Friends of SC State Parks PROMOTED CONTENT ROADBLOCK (Tribute Table program honors loved ones)

UCSC student-body president talks next steps after removal of predecessor

UC Santa Cruz Student Union Assembly President Jimmy Gomez.

UC Santa Cruz’s new Student Union Assembly president, Jimmy Gomez, says he’s taking steps to repair damage and restore trust in the student government months after former president Alfredo Gama Salmeron was recalled from the office by undergraduates. Here’s what he told Hillary Ojeda.

➤ PREVIOUSLY: UC Santa Cruz students recall student body president Alfredo Gama Salmeron, name interim

UCSC PROMOTED CONTENT ROADBLOCK (Campus + Community, to facilitate social justice scholarships)
Unhoused man found dead outside Housing Matters Coral Street campus Local chefs cooking up fundraiser for Capitola workers; tickets now on sale College enrollment decline leads to funding changes for underperforming Cal State schools Threatened red fox pops up south of Yosemite, increasing species’ survival chances Down The Line: All the biggest and best shows, gigs & events ahead in Santa Cruz County

toad fitness group

Santa Cruz County Job Board

click to play our puzzle of the day

Plenty to start you off on this last Thursday of January. Among other things, Thursdays here at Lookout mean Weekender, Wallace Baine’s weekly check-in on Santa Cruz County’s arts and entertainment scene. Believe me when I say it’s a jam-packed edition this week, and you can get it delivered right to your inbox — along with our other newsletters and breaking news alerts — by clicking right here. Following Lookout on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram is another great way to stay current.

Our content isn’t possible without community support, so if you’re not already, please consider becoming a Lookout member.

Have a most excellent Thursday, and I shall catch you back here Friday a.m.

Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz

A veteran jack-of-all-trades journalist who is Lookout’s copy editor, writes and compiles Morning Lookout newsletter and produces Lookout’s other editorial newsletters and helps run Lookout’s social...