Hello there! It’s Monday, Aug. 3, and after some morning clouds, Santa Cruz County is looking at a mostly sunny start to the workweek, with temperatures ranging from upper 60s at our beaches to upper 90s in the mountains.
I WANT TO … Become a Lookout member | Download the Lookout app | Browse latest news | Community Voices opinion | Get other Lookout newsletters | Solve a puzzle | Find local events | Advertise
With a strong El Niño climate pattern forming, Max Chun talked to weather experts about what that might mean for us here on the Central Coast this winter. As usual, our spot on the map makes it hard for meteorologists to make a strong prediction on whether El Niño will mean drier, milder conditions for Santa Cruz County — or wetter, stormier weather.
Monday also means Max’s weekly traffic-and-transit-focused Carmageddon column, this week looking ahead to the upcoming meeting of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, when it will consider awarding a contract for engineering services for multiple segments of the Coastal Rail Trail from Mid-County through Watsonville.
It’s a turbulent time for Watsonville Community Hospital, and Tania Ortiz caught up with Tim Moran, who came aboard last month as interim CEO – his second time in the role, after a stint in 2011 – while the hospital’s board searches for a permanent replacement. “I knew it was in trouble. I wanted to help. That was it, purely and simply,” Moran said. “And I have been here. Had I not been here before, maybe I wouldn’t have taken an interest. But I had been here, and I thought it was a good facility that should have a good long future.”
The Monday headlines also include Lily Belli’s story on efforts to reopen Soquel San Jose Road landmark Casalegno’s – away we go.
Were you forwarded this newsletter? Sign up here to receive Morning Lookout in your inbox every weekday.
Help us meet the matching challenge and fund 100 backpacks for local students in need
Now through August 3, Lookout’s 10% contribution to United Way Santa Cruz County’s Stuff the Bus school supply drive for every new membership is being matched. Meeting the matching challenge would provide 100 backpacks full of school supplies for local students experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity and other hardships.
Become a member of Lookout today and double your impact for local students in need. Signing up for a One-for-One membership provides free educational access to a local teacher in addition to filling two backpacks for local students.
Dedicate a Lookout membership to an educator in your life
Every One-for-One membership provides free access to a local teacher. Upgrade your membership today and you can dedicate that access to an educator in your life. Or, if they teach in Santa Cruz County, you can specify a teacher you’d like to receive access and Lookout will send them an invite.
Right now, Lookout is contributing 10% of membership fees — including upgrades — to the Stuff the Bus school supply drive, which provides backpacks full of supplies to local students in need. That means your membership upgrade benefits educators and students.
Strong El Niño could shape Santa Cruz County’s winter — but what that means is anyone’s guess
A strong El Niño climate pattern is forming and currently has a high likelihood of manifesting in the winter months. While the pattern usually causes either drier or wetter winters depending on the region, the Central Coast is often a coin flip. Max Chun reports.
Q&A: Interim CEO Tim Moran on the future, growth and finances of Watsonville Community Hospital
Lookout spoke with interim Watsonville Community Hospital CEO Tim Moran, who just finished his first two weeks into his new role, about what he hopes to accomplish throughout his six-month tenure. Read his Q&A with Tania Ortiz here.
DAILY DIGEST
Download the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to take our award-winning local coverage into this first workweek of August with you, including via breaking news notifications. We also offer breaking news alerts via email, along with our host of other newsletters, all free by signing up here. If you’re on social media, give Lookout a follow on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and/or Threads to keep up with it all that way.
Our content isn’t possible without community support, so if you’re not already, please consider becoming a Lookout member.
Have a good Monday, and thank you for reading.
Will McCahill