Lookout PM: April’s local vegan chef challenge, county facing lawsuits over two Live Oak housing projects, and federal funding for Highway 9

Lily Belli on Food: Rising bakers’ moving stories; Sleight of Hand wows at World Pizza Games; vegan challenge throughout April

Lily Belli relates the stories behind a trio of up-and-coming Santa Cruz County bakers, notes a great showing in Las Vegas for a local pizza purveyor and spotlights the Santa Cruz Vegan Chef Challenge, beginning Wednesday.

Santa Cruz County facing lawsuits over two contentious housing developments in Live Oak

By Tania Ortiz

A group of residents has filed a lawsuit against Santa Cruz County over a proposed development at 841 Capitola Rd., while local architecture firm Workbench is going to court over another of its projects, at 3500 Paul Sweet Rd.

Panetta, RTC announce federal funding for Highway 9 improvements

By Max Chun

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission staff and other local partners announced $850,000 in federal funding secured for Highway 9 improvements in Boulder Creek as part of the Boulder Creek Complete Streets project. The transit agency hopes to break ground in 2028.

OPINION: I’m a lifelong pacifist living in Santa Cruz; in 1980, I had an encounter with the Islamic Revolution

By Paul Johnston

Local peace activist, former union leader and retired sociologist Paul Johnston took a journey into revolutionary Iran 46 years ago on a mission to de-escalate the Iran hostage crisis. The trip showcased how hope, power and politics collided at a pivotal moment in history. What began as a mission for peace exposed deeper truths about manipulation on both sides of the hostage crisis. Today, as the U.S. bombings continue, the consequences of those days still echo. Here, he offers a personal reckoning with war and memory and repeats the enduring call to seek peace.

California considering a first-of-its-kind idea to boost factory-built housing

By Ben Christopher / CalMatters

To encourage housing developers to build more homes in factories and then trucking them to where they’re needed – something supporters say could result in more affordable housing – the state might get into the construction insurance business.

Big change for California small businesses: No more SBA loans for non-citizens

By Levi Sumagaysay / CalMatters

Non-U.S. citizens lost access beginning in March to Small Business Administration funding for small businesses, which provide the bulk of new jobs in California.