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Cause of Capitola Village explosion and fire still under investigation; roads mostly reopened

The cause of a Christmas morning explosion and fire in Capitola Village remains under investigation, but police do not believe that it is the result of suspicious activity. Three residents in the nearby area have been displaced by the incident. Continue reading…

Credit: Macall Polay/Searchlight Pictures

Costume designer Phillips to appear at Santa Cruz screening of ‘A Complete Unknown’

Famed costume designer Arianne Phillips, who grew up in Santa Cruz, comes to the Santa Cruz Cinema for a Q&A session before the screening of the new Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” on which she did the costume design. Continue reading…

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Many expect big things in Zach Friend’s post-Santa Cruz County supervisor act. Where will he go?

What’s next for former Santa Cruz County supervisor Zach Friend? After years of balancing family in Southern California and public service up north, Friend steps into an undefined future. Continue reading…

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

In Watsonville, Fox Theater’s second act remains unwritten as owner seeks community support

A year after purchasing Watsonville’s Fox Theater, local business owner Franco Vaca says there’s no telling when the theater will reopen to the public. Repairs to the property are estimated at $3 million, and Franco wants more support from the community to make his goal a reality. Continue reading…

Credit: Curt Myers / Powerlines Productions

The Surf Whisperer: Mark Sponsler’s forecasts have earned a devoted following among big-wave surfers

Mark Sponsler has gained cult status among big-wave surfers thanks to his ability to time a wave down to the minute and predict its height to within inches. The retired engineer’s website, Stormsurf, combines meteorological science with custom software to forecast exactly when the next monster wave will hit Steamer Lane. Continue reading…

Why Trump won revisited – let’s please not blame the media and math

Local businessperson and mom Brooke Secor responds to a recent Lookout op-ed by Tom Decker, a Republican who has strong ideas about why Donald Trump won in November. She believes it’s not about the appeal of the rallies and is still baffled how so many people can stand behind Trump’s rhetoric. She delves into the anti-intellectualism she feels is sweeping the country and the curious trend of people in cities, once bastions of liberalism and progressive thought, voting more like rural communities. Continue reading…

Best of Santa Cruz County events, December 27-29

Here are some events you may be interested in this weekend:

Friday, Dec. 27

Saturday, Dec. 28

Sunday, Dec. 29


Max Chun is the general-assignment correspondent at Lookout Santa Cruz. Max’s position has pulled him in many different directions, seeing him cover development, COVID, the opioid crisis, labor, courts...