Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup 1/22/26
We began the week honoring MLK Day and the power of community organizing, a reminder of how informed communities can advocate for themselves. That spirit is evident in Prunedale and other areas near last year’s Moss Landing battery storage facility fire, where residents are seeking clearer information about pollution and potential health impacts. The importance of timely, trustworthy information is also reflected statewide, as hospitalizations rise due to poisonous death cap mushrooms – often mistaken for harmless varieties by unsuspecting foragers.
With community uplift in mind, Lookout Santa Cruz is proud to introduce the next chapter of our Lookout in the Classroom program: Lookout for Teachers, giving local middle and high school educators free, unlimited access to Lookout Santa Cruz’s independent, fact-based local journalism. Beyond full access to our reporting, teachers receive a weekly stream of curated current events paired with classroom-ready resources — quizzes, lesson guides, discussion prompts and media literacy activities aligned to real curricula.
We have tested this program for a few years, but now, thanks to our donors and Changemaker Members, we are now able to publicly provide free memberships for 450 middle school and high school teachers. Sign-ups are first come, first served, and they are going fast!
Secondary teachers can sign up with the link on this page
This week’s highlighted stories
One year after massive fire at Moss Landing battery storage facility, nearby residents have more questions than answers
Why it matters: A year after the Moss Landing fire inside the second largest battery storage plant in the world, residents are unsatisfied with the information they’ve been given from both government experts and the Vistra corporation. The California Public Utilities Commission is also currently investigating how the fire started and who is at fault, but residents hoping to know more about any possible pollution from the fire are upset they haven’t gotten many clear answers, highlighting the value of transparency in the community.
In the classroom: How are modern battery storage standards different from the battery storage facility’s past and what role might that have played in the fire? Describe the tension explored in the article between the desire for climate conscious renewable energy and safety practices. To start, what was the purpose of the facility and what does Alex Johnson say about the benefit of battery storage? Also, how have the findings of various studies differed?
Poisonous death cap mushrooms kill three, sicken dozens on Central Coast, including two in Santa Cruz County
Why it matters: There are more than 30 sick and several dead due to death-cap mushrooms in Northern California and in the Central Coast. Wild mushroom foraging is popular in Santa Cruz County but hospitalizations stay low. Since poisonous look-alikes are common, local experts and public health officials advise to either avoid wild mushrooms or to make sure you are properly educated in safely foraging.
In the classroom: Why did public health officials release information materials in Spanish and Mixteco? Why are diverse information materials (such as multilingual information resources) so important? Why is it dangerous to trust a mushroom-identifying app when your own knowledge is not very extensive?
Local News
Santa Cruz County doubles down on opposition to federal offshore drilling plan
By Cassidy Beach
Santa Cruz County made its opposition to offshore drilling official, with a letter to the Interior Department and pleas to the public to get involved to stop the Trump administration’s move to drill off the coast of California.
At least one Watsonville resident detained by ICE over the weekend, advocacy group says
By Tania Ortiz
Immigration officials detained a Watsonville resident Sunday morning, according to grassroots organization Your Allied Rapid Response. ICE agents were also reported knocking on doors near Watsonville High School on Sunday.
PVUSD trustees approve early retirement plan as layoffs loom
By Grace Chinowsky
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District board unanimously voted for a voluntary early retirement plan after a six-hour meeting marked by internal discord and lingering fallout from layoffs proposed last month.
Annual MLK Day march in Santa Cruz draws thousands
By Grace Chinowsky
Representatives of more than 40 local groups gathered in downtown Santa Cruz for the NAACP-hosted march, where many voiced opposition to the Trump administration.
Interested in more stories? Browse all our recent coverage here.
California News
In a warming world, freshwater production is moving deep beneath the sea
By Annika Hammerschlag / Associated Press
A Southern California company is planning a facility that would use natural ocean pressure to power reverse osmosis — a process that forces seawater through membranes to filter out salt and impurities — and produce up to 60 million gallons of freshwater daily.
Student Stories/News
Several hundred students from Watsonville High School engaged in a walkout to peacefully protest ICE involvement in South County and vocalize their support for immigrant communities across the United States. One of the student organizers briefly shares their thoughts.
Educator Resources
How do I get the most out of using tech in the classroom?
From CommonSense Media, an article about digital literacy, utilizing technology in a healthy way in the classroom, student privacy online, and more.
Journalism Scholarship – ONE MONTH LEFT TO APPLY!
Lookout is accepting submissions for our journalism scholarship contest from November to February. 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. The deadline to apply is February 16.
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
Best,
Ava Salinas
Educational Program Assistant
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