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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County confronts $30 million budget shortfall while touting progress on mental health, homelessness

By Tania Ortiz

Santa Cruz County leaders held their first State of the County address Tuesday evening, providing residents an overview of recent successes but also serious financial challenges that lie ahead for the county.

Credit: Bloomsbury

What does UC Santa Cruz have in common with the rest of the UC? A new book explores the system’s complicated history

By Wallace Baine

What makes UC Santa Cruz different from the University of California’s nine other campuses? Journalist Miriam Pawel’s new book, “California Dreams,” traces the UC system’s tumultuous history — and explores how UCSC’s distinctive identity emerged from a vision that quickly collided with the upheavals of the 1960s.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

This week in Santa Cruz County: Two more local Starbucks stores close; looking at the toll of ongoing closure of Watsonville Community Hospital’s NICU

By Jessica M. Pasko

Starbucks locations in Soquel and Watsonville are among the 250 nationwide affected by another wave of closures at the coffee giant, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at Santa Cruz County business.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

OPINION: Santa Cruz County has healthy kelp; we shouldn’t close our coast to fishing

By Justin Cummings and Manu Koenig

After nearly three years, the fight over proposed no-take marine protected areas along the Santa Cruz County coast is headed for a final decision. County Supervisors Justin Cummings and Manu Koenig argue that the proposals are too broad, lack scientific justification and would unnecessarily restrict local fishing access. State wildlife and Ocean Protection Council staff have recommended denying both petitions, finding insufficient scientific justification for the proposed closures. Now the decision rests with the California Fish and Game Commission — and local residents have one final chance Wednesday to make their voices heard via comments.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

PVUSD school board candidate Curt Wilcox charged with felonies related to candidacy filing

By Hillary Ojeda

Pajaro Valley Unified school board candidate Curt Wilcox was arrested Sept. 18 and faces felony charges related to his candidacy filing, including allegations involving his residency and voter registration.

Credit: Amanda Andrade-Rhoades / Associated Press

Abortion pills to be offered at California community college health centers under new law

By Noelle Doblado / CalMatters and Skylar Stock / CalMatters

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring California community colleges with health centers to provide access to abortion medication starting in 2029. A previous law already requires public universities in California to offer abortion pills.

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Best of Santa Cruz County events, October 2-4

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

Friday, Oct. 2

Saturday, Oct. 3

Sunday, Oct. 4

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...