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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County students make small gains in math and reading, but trail state averages and pre-pandemic levels

By Hillary Ojeda

Santa Cruz County students made small gains in math and English language arts in California standardized testing this year, but scores remain below statewide averages and pre-pandemic levels.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Weekender: Uncork Corralitos, fall fests, No Kings

By Lookout Santa Cruz staff

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

Credit: Kimmy Bonnema

Watsonville puppy wins Purina contest, earns $10,000 for Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter

By Kate Lipsky

Bowie, a 6-month-old Dalmatian from Watsonville, won a Purina contest and was named “chief snuggle officer” for Puppy Chow. The honor included a $25,000 “salary” prize and an additional $10,000 that was donated to the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Incumbent Gail Levine and newcomer Ashleigh Hopkins face off for San Lorenzo Valley Unified school board seat

By Hillary Ojeda

Incumbent Gail Levine, a longtime public school educator, faces newcomer Ashleigh Hopkins for the Trustee Area 4 seat on the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District governing board. Like many districts across the county and state, SLVUSD is navigating declining enrollment impacts while trying to retain qualified teachers.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

OPINION: A Lookout View: Ryan Coonerty for Santa Cruz mayor

By Lookout Editorial Board

Santa Cruz is at a pivotal moment of change, and its next mayor will need experience, political savvy and a clear vision for the city’s future. The Lookout Editorial Board endorses Ryan Coonerty over Ami Chen Mills, recognizing her advocacy and the concerns she raises about homelessness, affordability and city design. But Coonerty’s government experience, regional relationships and policy initiatives make him better equipped to tackle the city’s most pressing challenges. His proposals for public art, downtown revitalization and greater transparency offer a promising path forward.

Credit: Zaidee Stavely / EdSource

New California test scores show most students don’t meet standards in math, English or science

By Zaidee Stavely / EdSource, Lasherica Thorton / EdSource, and Yuxuan Xie / EdSource

California’s 2026 test scores follow a familiar trend: incremental improvement from the prior year, with the majority of students behind grade-level standards.

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Best of Santa Cruz County events, October 16-18

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

Friday, Oct. 16

Saturday, Oct. 17

Sunday, Oct. 18

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...