Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup 9/15/25
As the new school year moves into full swing, students and families across Santa Cruz County are seeing how history, policy, and education funding shape daily life. From the revival of a historic activist group in Watsonville to looming federal cuts at Cabrillo College, this week’s headlines offer rich entry points for classroom discussions about equity, access, and civic action.
Before we get to that, I wanted to invite you to a really special film screening we are hosting next Wednesday night at the Del Mar Theatre. We are screening the film Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink and then having a discussion with media leaders on the fight to rescue local news and its importance to democracy. Learn more and get your tickets here.
If you want to join but the tickets are too much, please reach out and I can give you some more accessible options: jamie@lookoutlocal.com
This week’s highlighted stories
After 30 years, Brown Berets relaunch in Watsonville, facing familiar immigration debates
Why it matters: The relaunch of this long-standing Chicano activist group comes as immigration and farmworker rights again stir passionate local debate. Their return shows how community organizing links past and present struggles for justice.
In the classroom: Ask students to compare today’s immigration conversations with earlier activism in the region. How do groups like the Brown Berets influence policy and public opinion? What tools do they use to advocate for change?
Cabrillo College braces for $3M hit as feds cut grants for minority-serving programs
Why it matters: Federal reductions threaten initiatives supporting first-generation and Latino students at Cabrillo, raising questions about how funding decisions affect access to higher education.
In the classroom: Encourage students to analyze how budget cuts can shape opportunity. Who is most affected when programs shrink or disappear? What arguments could be made for protecting—or redirecting—these funds?
Remember: All Santa Cruz County high school educators and students receive free Lookout memberships, giving full access to reporting, events, and perks.
Current events to use in your classroom
Here’s a roundup of recent articles that could help you with your students, or ones you could use in your classroom. Interested in more stories? Browse all our recent coverage here.
LOCAL NEWS
Carmageddon: Watsonville plans millions in road upgrades, expanding bike lanes and sidewalks
By Max Chun
Watsonville is planning a series of road improvements through 2026, including $4.7 million to add bike lanes and sidewalks along Freedom Boulevard. They’re the latest upgrades to South County streets after a stretch of Green Valley Road got a makeover earlier this year.
With city council vote, path to Capitola Mall redevelopment begins to take shape
By Max Chun
The Capitola City Council voted unanimously Thursday to advance plans to redevelop the Capitola Mall, setting a proposed January deadline for a rezoning process that could allow the long-stalled project to finally begin to move forward.
Omar Dieguez: Driscoll’s can do more to protect Watsonville kids and residents
By Omar Dieguez
Watsonville native Omar Dieguez is on a monthlong hunger strike to protest the use of pesticides near schools in the Pajaro Valley. His goal is to pressure local berry growers, particularly Driscoll’s, to stop spraying pesticides near schools and work to convert to organic practices.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
California Legislature overrides local zoning to boost transit-oriented development
By Ben Christopher / CalMatters
Senate Bill 79, among the most controversial housing proposals in recent memory, overcame opposition from local governments, organized labor unions and many legislative Democrats.
EDUCATOR RESOURCES
Sign up for your free access on our Educator Page
Make sure to get your free access for a full year and utilize our resources on our Educator Page.
Check out our Discussion Guides
Lookout’s discussion guides help students critically evaluate news and social media by providing strategies and vocabulary to analyze information. They also offer ready-to-use questions and lesson plans to engage with local news and can be used for any article.
Reminder on student access
Lookout believes that all students deserve to know deeply about the place they live in. For all High School students in Santa Cruz County, Lookout offers free student memberships. Encourage them to sign up.
Book a class visit
We’d love to visit your classroom! Lookout staff can come to your classroom and lead a workshop about various different 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 hard work you do in the community and for supporting our educational programs, helping the younger generations learn media literacy skills and become invested community members and democratic citizens. If you’d like to learn more about our school programs, get more involved or have any questions, please reach out to me jamie@lookoutlocal.com.
Best,
Jamie Garfield
Director of Student and Community Engagement
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