Lookout PM: PVUSD candidate's legal troubles; the AI boom and the local housing market

Welcome to Friday night’s Lookout PM.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Pajaro Valley school board candidate has felony assault, child endangerment convictions – but can still run

By Hillary Ojeda

A Pajaro Valley Unified school board candidate with convictions including felony assault and child endangerment can still run for office because those crimes don’t disqualify him under California law, while questions have also been raised about Curt Street Wilcox’s claimed Watsonville residence.

Santa Cruz County housing market stalls, then rebounds as AI wealth boom looms

By Max Chun

The Santa Cruz County housing market looked similar in July to what it has for most of the summer, despite sales temporarily dipping as prospective buyers leave for vacation and school gets back into session.

Timber fire in Big Sur eclipses 6,000 acres; containment up to 29%

By Max Chun

Crews are making progress on the Timber fire, which continues to burn in Big Sur in Monterey County. It had scorched more than 6,000 acres as of Thursday night, but containment was 29%. Several state parks remain closed as firefighting efforts continue.

Credit: Natasha Leverett / Lookout Santa Cruz

Watsonville Flock debate gains momentum as councilmember rethinks support

By Tania Ortiz

After Santa Cruz ended its contract with Flock Safety, activists are stepping up efforts to persuade Watsonville to do the same — and at least one councilmember who previously supported the surveillance cameras is beginning to have second thoughts.

California maintains school vaccine rules despite Trump order

By Diana Lambert / EdSource

Despite a new executive order from President Donald Trump regarding the childhood immunization schedule, California officials affirmed that the state will maintain its existing vaccination requirements for students.

Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / CalMatters

Lawmakers gut major DUI reform through ‘hostile amendments’

By Lauren Hepler / CalMatters and Robert Lewis / CalMatters

A bill that would have been one of California’s most substantial DUI reform bills in years had widespread support, but Sen. Sabrina Cervantes’ committee suddenly gutted it with little explanation.

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