Lookout PM: Coonerty, Chen Mills set for SC mayor run-off as Friday update brings clarity; 'Lost Boys'; UCSC dumpster diving

Welcome to Friday evening’s Lookout PM.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Coonerty, Chen Mills head to November run-off for Santa Cruz mayor

By Hillary Ojeda

Ryan Coonerty and Ami Chen Mills will meet in a November run-off for Santa Cruz mayor after the county clerk’s office added 6,865 ballots to the county’s total on Friday […]

District 4 county supervisor race: Nuñez maintains large lead over incumbent Hernandez; run-off still possible

By Tania Ortiz

Tony Nuñez continues to maintain a large lead over incumbent Felipe Hernandez in the District 4 Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors race, but there still is a possibility for […]

Santa Cruz City Council: Newsome, Golder secure second terms following Friday update

By Max Chun

Incumbents Scott Newsome and Renee Golder have each secured a second term, defeating challenger Hector Marin and Gabriella Noack, respectively, in the race for Santa Cruz City Council Districts 4 […]

Santa Cruz County Superior Court: Immigration attorney Alisa Thomas secures open seat in judge race

By Tania Ortiz

With 99% of county ballots counted with Friday’s update, immigration attorney Alisa Thomas has defeated criminal defense attorney Bryan Hackett in the race for an open seat on the Santa […]

Santa Cruz County 2026 primary election results in charts: Friday update brings clarity across county races

By Max Chun

Find the results for all local races in Santa Cruz County’s 2026 primary election here. Lookout will continuously update this page as new results come in.

Capitola voters will elect four district representatives — and a mayor — under new system

By Tania Ortiz

As Capitola continues its switch to district-based elections, the city council approved the creation of four districts plus an elected mayor with a two-year term. The first districting maps are […]

Santa Carla never dies: ‘The Lost Boys’ return home

By Jana Marcus

After “The Lost Boys” first transformed Santa Cruz into Santa Carla, fans from around the world still make the pilgrimage to the Beach Boardwalk and Atlantis Fantasyworld. The final installment […]

‘Tis the season for … dumpster diving? How students take advantage of the items left behind during UCSC’s move-out week

By Caly Plowman and William S. Woodhams

UC Santa Cruz move-out week often transforms into a massive treasure hunt, with students rescuing items like vintage tech and gaming chairs from donation bins. It’s a campuswide scavenger hunt […]

‘No Kings’ returns Sunday with smaller local gatherings, rally in Felton

By Caly Plowman

Another round of “No Kings” events is set for Sunday, counterprogramming to a mixed martial arts event on the White House lawn that coincides with President Donald Trump’s birthday. Grassroots […]

California Democrats threaten to block Newsom priorities over imperiled climate deal

By Alejandro Lazo / CalMatters and Yue Stella Yu / CalMatters

Gov. Gavin Newsom endorsed new carbon market rules that could drastically shrink the state’s funding for climate projects, threatening the spending deal he struck with legislators last year. Senate Democrats […]

David Hockney, iconic British artist known for his colorful landscapes and pool scenes, dies at 88

By Jill Lawless / Associated Press

David Hockney, a treasured British artist whose paintings of shimmering pools and colorful iPad drawings became icons of contemporary art, has died, his publicist said Friday. He was 88.

Get full access to Lookout Santa Cruz

Become a member to read all of Lookout’s local coverage, from politics and policy to education, dining and more. Annual and monthly membership options are available — start reading for as little as $17 today!

Join now

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.