What’s up, Lookout friends? Wednesday, July 22, has arrived, and after some pre-dawn drizzle, the morning clouds are forecast to give way to gradual sunshine around Santa Cruz County, with highs in the lower 80s in the mountains, upper 60s by the bay.
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Hillary Ojeda leads things off, reporting on a new study by UC Santa Cruz researchers that digs into barriers to access to Golden State beaches. While California law guarantees universal access to its coastal areas, researchers found, factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, racial identity and geography all collide to influence beach access based on historical discrimination and dispossession.
Jessica M. Pasko returns with her midweek look at local business, with a focus this week on the variety of legal challenges facing Watsonville berry giant Driscoll’s and challenges for Pajaro Valley apple farmers.
Local law enforcement agencies released the names of both the victim and the suspect in Monday’s fatal stabbing outside the Capitola Mall, Max Chun and Caly Luna Plowman report: Rachell Summers, 73, of Capitola, and Tyler Leibelt, 19, of Santa Cruz, who remains in custody.
The Wednesday headlines also include the latest in Santa Cruz County food & drink news from Lily Belli โ onward.
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Lookout is contributing 10% of membership purchases or upgrades to United Way Santa Cruz Countyโs 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.
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Beyond free access: UC Santa Cruz study exposes the hidden barriers to Californiaโs beaches
A new UC Santa Cruz study reveals that despite Californiaโs strong access laws, historical discrimination, wealth disparities and systemic barriers still make the stateโs coastlines overwhelmingly white and affluent. Details here from Hillary Ojeda.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Deeper look at recent Driscollโs litigation; Pajaro Valley apple growers face increasing challenges
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 โ Jessica M. Pasko has it covered in her weekly survey of the Santa Cruz County business scene. Read it here.
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Thanks for reading โ be good, and I’ll see you next time.
Will McCahill