Welcome to Thursday 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

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Weekender: Celebrating local women, Watsonville Film Festival & February’s food faves

Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out in Santa Cruz County, with recommendations from Lookout correspondent Lily Belli.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Soquel Union Elementary school board approves layoffs

By Hillary Ojeda

The Soquel Union Elementary School District board approved preliminary layoffs equivalent to nearly 17 full-time positions Wednesday night after dozens of parents, staff and students protested the cuts during a packed meeting.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz mayoral field begins to fill out as three familiar names enter race

By Max Chun

Three new candidates have entered the race for Santa Cruz mayor — Ami Chen Mills, Joy Schendledecker and Chris Krohn — all of whom have either previously held or run for office or have been politically active outside of elected office. They join Ryan Coonerty and Gillian Greensite in vying to replace Fred Keeley.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

The best things I ate and drank in Santa Cruz County in February

By Lily Belli

Wet February weather led Lookout food and drink correspondent Lily Belli to seek warm flavors at restaurants, food trucks and bakeries across Santa Cruz County. She selects from a month of eating to highlight a loaded jacket potato, tender conchas, a comforting and lively cabbage dish and a familiar favorite at a longstanding cantina.

Credit: Via Consuelo Alba

Documentary showcasing work of local midwife to screen at Watsonville Film Festival next week

By Tania Ortiz

“The Long Labor,” a short documentary that follows Watsonville midwife Maria Ramos Bracamontes, is part of the Watsonville Film Festival’s program this year. Lookout spoke with the film’s co-director Consuelo Alba, who also founded the festival.

Credit: J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press

Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Noem after mounting criticism over her leadership

By Michelle L. Price / Associated Press and Rebecca Santana / Associated Press

President Donald Trump on Thursday fired his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, after mounting criticism over her leadership of the department, including the handling of the administration’s immigration crackdown and disaster response.

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, March 21-22

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

Saturday, Mar. 21

Sunday, Mar. 22

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...