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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Cabrillo College faculty union declares impasse amid negotiations with administration 

By Hillary Ojeda

The Cabrillo College faculty union, which represents more than 450 members, declared impasse amid its negotiations with the school’s administration this week. Faculty say they’re asking for a higher cost-of-living increase.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Beyond free access: UC Santa Cruz study exposes the hidden barriers to California’s beaches

By Hillary Ojeda

A new UC Santa Cruz study reveals that despite California’s strong access laws, historical discrimination, wealth disparities and systemic barriers still make the state’s coastlines overwhelmingly white and affluent.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

This week in Santa Cruz County business: Deeper look at recent Driscoll’s litigation; Pajaro Valley apple growers face increasing challenges

By Jessica M. Pasko

A trio of lawsuits for a Watsonville berry giant, compounding woes for apple farmers in South County and beyond and numbers, names and dates to know – Jessica M. Pasko has it covered in her weekly survey of the Santa Cruz County business scene.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Police identify victim, suspect in fatal Capitola Mall stabbing

By Max Chun and Caly Luna Plowman

Capitola police and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim in Monday’s fatal stabbing outside the Capitola Mall as Rachell Summers, 73, of Capitola. On Tuesday, the law enforcement agencies also identified the suspect as Tyler Leibelt, 19, of Santa Cruz, who remains in custody.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

OPINION: The City of Santa Cruz drew the line on facial recognition and Flock cameras. AI is testing us again.

By Steve Pleich

The City of Santa Cruz led the nation in 2020 by restricting facial recognition technology, yet new artificial intelligence tools are quietly expanding the reach of surveillance, writes civil libertarian Steve Pleich. Before these systems become commonplace, he believes local cities and the county board of supervisors should establish clear rules that continue to protect both public safety and civil liberties. He insists privacy should not disappear simply because technology evolves.

Credit: Miguel Vasconcellos for CalMatters

Trump’s new immigration strategy revealed in purchase of two ICE detention centers in California

By Wendy Fry / CalMatters and Nigel Duara / CalMatters

The Trump administration is trying to lock down immigration detention capacity in California despite opposition from the state’s Democratic leaders.

Upgrade your membership to support teachers — and double your impact for students in need

Lookout is contributing 10% of membership purchases or upgrades to United Way Santa Cruz County’s Stuff the Bus school supply drive, which provides backpacks full of supplies for local students experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity and other hardships. More than 2,800 local students experienced homelessness during the 2024-25 school year, according to the Santa Cruz County Office of Education.

Every One-for-One membership provides free educational access for a local teacher, and right now, when you upgrade your membership, you’re also doubling your impact for local students in need.

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Support local students in need with your Lookout membership

Lookout is contributing 10% of each new membership to United Way Santa Cruz County’s Stuff the Bus school supply drive, which provides backpacks full of supplies for local students experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity and other hardships. More than 2,800 local students experienced homelessness during the 2024-25 school year, according to the Santa Cruz County Office of Education.

Right now, your contribution is being matched, meaning each new annual membership fills a backpack for another local student in need.

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Best of Santa Cruz County events, July 24-26

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

Friday, Jul. 24

Saturday, Jul. 25

Sunday, Jul. 26

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...