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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Weekender: Curtain rises for summer theater

By Lookout Santa Cruz Staff

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

Credit: County of Santa Cruz

Several local projects receiving funding as part of major $2.5 billion state transportation package

By Max Chun

Several Santa Cruz County projects are receiving a boost as part of a $2.5 billion transit funding package that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced on Thursday.

Purrrrrrfest returns: Santa Cruz metal bands rock out to help black cats

By Mat Weir

Santa Cruz’s annual Purrrrrrfest returns Saturday to the Blue Lagoon, bringing four local metal bands together to raise money for the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s Bogey Fund, which helps black cats find homes. The quirky benefit concert has grown into a beloved community tradition now in its sixth year.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

City of Santa Cruz eyes 2027 construction for partial West Cliff Drive roadway, path relocation

By Max Chun

The City of Santa Cruz is working to wrap up permitting and land acquisition processes for a project that involves relocating a section of West Cliff Drive farther inland to improve public safety and coastal access well into the future as coastal erosion remains a chief concern.

Credit: Angela Lipanovich

OPINION: AI data centers might just save rooftop solar — and your electric bill

By Angela Lipanovich and Jenny Folkesson

Artificial intelligence data centers are poised to transform California’s electric grid — but they might also rescue rooftop solar from years of political backlash, say clean-energy advocates Angela Lipanovich, an attorney, and Jenny Folkesson, a computer scientist. They argue that the AI boom exposes flaws in the “solar cost shift” debate and presents a chance to lower electricity costs by pairing data-center investment with distributed solar and battery storage. They say the result could mean more affordable power for Santa Cruz County ratepayers — and a surprising new future for rooftop solar.

Credit: California Institute of the Arts

A new law holds colleges accountable if their grads don’t earn more than $36,000 a year

By Adam Echelman / CalMatters

A new federal law requires colleges to prove that their graduates earn more than someone with only a high school diploma or else students could lose access to federal loans. About 300 California programs could fail the test, including many cosmetology and some arts programs.

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.

Become a member and double your impact

Sign up for your Neighborhood Roundup. Sent every weekday morning, receive a neighborhood-specific roundup of the weather forecast, local news, crime reports, road closures, permit applications, restaurant inspections, upcoming events and more.

Best of Santa Cruz County events, July 17-19

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

Friday, Jul. 17

Saturday, Jul. 18

Sunday, Jul. 19

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...