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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

2 killed, 2 injured in Moss Landing shooting; victims not yet identified, sheriff’s office says

By Tania Ortiz

Two people are dead and two others are injured after a shooting in Moss Landing early Monday, Monterey County officials say.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz mayoral candidates Chen Mills, Coonerty face campaign ad controversies just before Election Day

By Max Chun

Campaign advertisements for both Ami Chen Mills and Ryan Coonerty received criticism on social media over the weekend. A volunteer-made Chen Mills poster was accused for being antisemetic, while a Coonerty poster on a fire truck in the closed area of Pacific Avenue on Halloween was criticized for using a city-owned vehicle for a political campaign, and for potentially blocking emergency services should they have needed to access the area.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Pajaro Valley Unified community celebrates groundbreaking on Pajaro Middle School’s athletic fields

By Hillary Ojeda and Kevin Painchaud

Students, staff and community members celebrated the groundbreaking for Pajaro Middle School’s new turf athletic fields Monday morning. Members of the San Francisco 49ers Foundation, 49ers alumni and Gold Rush cheerleaders also attended the event at the school.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

29 new businesses have opened in downtown Santa Cruz since 2025. Here’s why.

By Lily Belli

Downtown Santa Cruz has welcomed 29 new businesses since January 2025, with locally owned shops and restaurants helping revive a commercial district that struggled with nearly 40 empty storefronts post-pandemic. New housing, increased foot traffic and city programs designed to attract businesses are helping fuel the growth, with 11 more businesses on the horizon.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Carmageddon: RTC to consider how to spend Measure D funds over next five years

By Max Chun

At its Thursday meeting, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will hold a discussion and public hearing to decide how to allocate Measure D funds over the next five years.

Credit: Mariam Zuhaib / Associated Press

Supreme Court rejects Trump administration push to set aside thousands of California ballots

By Lindsay Whitehurst / Associated Press and Nicholas Riccardi / Associated Press

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s push to force California to set aside thousands of ballots from people the federal government claims are noncitizens, a decision that came hours before the final day of voting in the pivotal midterm elections.

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Best of Santa Cruz County events, November 2-5

Here are some events you may be interested in next week:

Monday, Nov. 2

Tuesday, Nov. 3

Wednesday, Nov. 4

Thursday, Nov. 5

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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...