Welcome to Wednesday night’s Lookout PM.

I WANT TO … Become a Lookout Member | Download the Lookout App | Browse Latest News | Get other Lookout Newsletters | Solve a Puzzle | Find Local Events | Advertise

Corralitos restaurant Circle & Square Bistro wins Santa Cruz Vegan Chef Challenge

By Lily Belli

Nearly 30 restaurants across Santa Cruz County participated in the county’s first Vegan Chef Challenge in April, offering special plant-based dishes aimed at attracting diners and encouraging restaurants to expand vegan options. Corralitos restaurant Circle & Square Bistro won the competition. Participating chefs said the event brought in new customers and inspired interest in keeping some vegan dishes on their menus permanently.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

This week in Santa Cruz County business: Tourism saw growth in ’25 despite tariff, immigration concerns; farmers fear fertilizer, fuel hikes as growing season kicks off

By Jessica M. Pasko

A fifth consecutive year of growth for area tourism and the impact of the war in Iran on Santa Cruz County agriculture lead off Jessica M. Pasko’s weekly survey of local business.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Council candidate Hector Marin’s sentencing pushed to June in case involving driving on a suspended license following 2024 DUI

By Max Chun

District 4 Santa Cruz City Council candidate Hector Marin is due for sentencing on Wednesday for driving with a suspended license following a 2024 arrest for driving under the influence in Santa Clara County.

Credit: Steel Bonnet Brewing Company

Great Scott! Submissions are open to name a beer honoring Scotts Valley

By Ashley Palma-Jimenez

Steel Bonnet Brewing Company is celebrating Scotts Valley’s 60th birthday with a contest to name a hazy IPA to commemorate the occasion.

Celebrating Soquel High’s rising student journalists

By Jamie Garfield

Five Soquel High students earned finalist spots in Lookout Santa Cruz’s 2026 Student Journalism Scholarship competition, showcasing the power of local storytelling, community connection and student curiosity. Celebrated alongside the “unsung heroes” they profiled, these young journalists demonstrated how thoughtful reporting can amplify voices that often go unheard — and highlighted the growing impact of journalism education in Santa Cruz County classrooms.

Credit: Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press

Officials say $1.3 billion in Medicaid money to California will be deferred over allegations of fraud

By Ali Swenson / Associated Press and Michelle L. Price / Associated Press

Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday announced new steps in the Trump administration’s initiative to root out fraud in federal health programs, including a $1.3 billion deferral in Medicaid reimbursements to California.

Get your first year for just $99 — nearly a 50% savings!

Right now, during election season, get your first year of an annual membership to Lookout for just $99 with coupon code Election2026. Members have full access to all Lookout’s local coverage, from politics and policy to education, dining and more.

Start my membership for $99

Sign up for your Neighborhood Roundup. Sent every weekday morning, receive a neighborhood-specific roundup of the weather forecast, local news, crime reports, road closures, permit applications, road closures, restaurant inspections, upcoming events and more.

Best of Santa Cruz County events, May 15-17

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

Friday, May. 15

Saturday, May. 16

Sunday, May. 17

Add an event to our calendar

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...