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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

How Capitola City Council race turned divisive over candidate TJ Welch’s past LGBTQ+ comments

By Tania Ortiz

Late in the campaign, the Capitola City Council race has turned nasty over candidate TJ Welch’s past comments about the LGBTQ+ community, prompting accusations of bigotry from some residents and a defense of his record from others. Welch disputes how his remarks have been characterized and says he has apologized to members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County sees spike in ambulance calls, prompting concerns about emergency response delays

By Hillary Ojeda

Santa Cruz County received 104 ambulance calls Monday, well above its typical 70-80, prompting concerns after the system reached “level 0,” when all ambulances are temporarily busy.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Watsonville Community Hospital may close maternity services to avoid shutting down

By Tania Ortiz

Watsonville Community Hospital leadership says significant changes are needed by April 1 to keep the struggling facility open. The hospital board could decide as soon as Oct. 28 whether to pursue options that include closing labor and delivery and the neonatal intensive care unit, potentially ending services that account for nearly one-third of Santa Cruz County births.

Credit: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk / Facebook

Weekender: Spooky fun and Chili Cook-Off

By Lookout Santa Cruz staff

Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out this weekend around Santa Cruz County.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

He helped mix Taylor Swift’s ‘Red.’ Now this Grammy-nominated sound engineer calls Aptos home

By Alia Yee Noll

Mixing engineer Math Bishop worked on Taylor Swift’s Grammy-nominated album “Red” and has credits with bands like The Killers and Modest Mouse. After more than a decade in Los Angeles, he moved to Aptos for a slower pace, and he’s hoping to get plugged into the local music scene around Santa Cruz County.

Credit: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

Federal judge orders Trump administration to halt noncitizen voting investigation in California, eight other states

By Geoff Mulvihill / Associated Press

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to halt investigations in nine states, including California, into whether noncitizens are registered to vote.

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Best of Santa Cruz County events, October 23-25

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

Friday, Oct. 23

Saturday, Oct. 24

Sunday, Oct. 25

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...