Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup 12/2/25
Thanksgiving break is barely in the rearview and somehow winter break is already waving from around the corner. As the holiday chaos ramps up, City Life Correspondent Wallace Baine takes us on a colorful trip back to the early days of Santa Cruz’s now-bustling Westside. And over in Watsonville, the community hospital is still on the hunt for a financial partner to keep things running smoothly.
Lookout’s annual journalism scholarship, where students write about a local “unsung hero,” is officially taking submissions! All high school students in Santa Cruz County are encouraged to apply.
The top ten winners will be published on Lookout’s site and the top three winners will win $500 each. Check out more information, including entry requirements, here. If you would like to assign this to your class and would like us to host a class workshop, or have a Lookout representative come to your class to share more info, we would be happy to! Feel free to reach out with any questions at interns@lookoutlocal.com or jamie@lookoutlocal.com.
This week’s highlighted stories
The Westside boom: How a blossoming business district evolved from industrial disrepair
Why it matters:
On Santa Cruz’s Westside, a space that fell out of its industrial/agricultural use has been turned commercial, now full of coffee shops, breweries, wineries, sweets shops, and retail stores. The two entrepreneurs who first bought up some of the space share how they envisioned reinvigorating the space more than two decades ago.
In the classroom:
Ask students what might be appealing to the surrounding community about an inoperative industrial space being turned into a commercial one? What are the advantages of this transition? According to one business owner in the article, the 11 tasting rooms near each other don’t see each other as competition. What does the article imply about collaboration vs competition in this business hub?
Watsonville Community Hospital continues search for financial partners; CEO says decision is still months away
Why it matters:
After financial setbacks, including a cyberattack and predicted drop in Medicaid and Medi-cal reimbursements, Watsonville Community Hospital is working to find a financial partner, perhaps a larger healthcare provider, to help with day-to-day operations.
In the classroom:
Prompt students to consider the cyberattack’s effects on funding, staffing, and patient trust. Additionally, what benefits does CEO Stephan Gray name could result from partnering with a larger healthcare provider? What are potential risks for the community if the hospital cannot find a financial partner?
More current events for the classroom
Colorado-based nonprofit tapped to temporarily run Santa Cruz County Head Start after Encompass exit
By Hillary Ojeda
Encompass Community Services will hand off Santa Cruz County’s Head Start program to Denver-based Community Development Institute Head Start, which is expected to arrive Monday to begin reopening services that have been shuttered since Oct. 31. Encompass leaders say stepping aside will allow the federally funded program — which laid off 91 staff amid funding delays and shifting federal requirements — to restart more quickly while a long-term local operator is identified.
ICE has visited Santa Cruz County at least 13 times since July, records show
By Tania Ortiz
In the past five months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have visited Santa Cruz County at least 13 times, according to documents from the county sheriff and Watsonville police. This brings Lookout’s count of ICE notifications to local law enforcement agencies to a total of at least 28 since President Donald Trump took office and made immigration enforcement a priority.
[OPINION] California’s coastal ‘Blue Wall’ must rise again to stop new offshore drilling
By Katie Thompson and Dan Haifley
The federal government’s new five-year offshore drilling plan targets California waters for the first time in four decades, and seabed mining is also gaining federal authorization. In response, Santa Cruz County leaders and Save Our Shores are reviving local strategies that helped block offshore oil development in the 1980s and create the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
California news
Fewer international students are coming to the U.S. What this means for California
By Aliza Imran/CalMatters and Kahani Malhotra/CalMatters
The number of new international students enrolling in college in the U.S. is dropping. Their losses will be felt beyond classrooms, as foreign students in particular drive scientific research and advancement. As the state with the most international students, California will likely feel the biggest impact.
Misinformation spreads as Trump moves to cut aid for some California students
By Adam Echelman/CalMatters and Mikhail Zinshteyn/CalMatters
The Trump administration is suing California, asking the state to end its policies allowing students without legal status to access in-state tuition and financial aid. But the administration’s legal argument is weak, according to top legal experts.
Interested in more stories? Browse all our recent coverage here.
EDUCATOR RESOURCES
“Biased,” “Boring” and “Bad”: Unpacking perceptions of news media and journalism among U.S. teens (2025)
From the News Literacy Project, a report that highlights key findings from their study that aims to understand teenagers’ distrust of news.
Journalism Scholarship
We invite all high school students in Santa Cruz County to apply. Top three winners win $500 each and top ten winners get published on the Lookout site.
Book a class visit with Lookout Santa Cruz
We’d love to visit your classroom! Lookout staff can come to your classroom and lead a workshop about various things from journalism to elections. These workshops last the length of one class period and are a great way to get your students engaged in different aspects of learning. Reach out if you are interested.
Thank you for all the work you do in our community. Your efforts help younger generations build media literacy skills, engage with their communities, and grow as active democratic citizens. If you’d like to learn more about our school programs, get involved, or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at interns@lookoutlocal.com or my mentor Jamie Garfield (Director of Student and Community Engagement) at jamie@lookoutlocal.com
Happy holiday season,
Ava Salinas
Educational Program Assistant
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