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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Historic horse stable, home to rescue animals, faces eviction as UCSC moves to acquire coastal property

After five decades serving local horse owners and rescue animals, Coast Road Stables faces displacement as UC Santa Cruz and The Conservation Fund move forward with plans to purchase the 200-acre coastal property just north of city limits. With leases set to end by June 2026, boarders say they’ve been left in the dark — and are now scrambling to find alternatives for their animals, many of which are elderly or medically fragile. Continue reading…

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

In the Public Interest: Upping the urgency around battery storage policy in Santa Cruz County

Around Santa Cruz County politics & policy with Lookout correspondent Christopher Neely. Continue reading…

Credit: Mateo Garcia
Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Sheriff’s Office investigating remote-controlled aircraft crash resulting in two injuries

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a remote-controlled aircraft crashed into a home, injuring two people during the Fire in the Sky Open House at the Watsonville Municipal Airport over the long weekend. Continue reading…

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Carmageddon: City council’s Murray Street Bridge rescue plan could take years, with uncertain benefits

The Santa Cruz City Council’s plans to fix problems caused by the lengthy Murray Street Bridge closure could face a long, costly road ahead, city officials say, with no guarantee they will significantly ease congestion. Continue reading…

Credit: Marco Lucadano

All About Theatre delivers energetic take on provocative teen musical ‘Spring Awakening’

If you think community theater can’t rock, “Spring Awakening” at All About Theatre will prove you wrong. With a driving rock score powered by an impressive orchestra and a cast that builds to explosive energy, “Spring Awakening” is messy, moving and alive — a reminder of why supporting local theater matters. Continue reading…


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Best of Santa Cruz County events, December 20-21

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

Saturday, Dec. 20

Sunday, Dec. 21


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...