Morning, all. Tuesday, Aug. 5, is here and looking like another sunny day in Santa Cruz County once the marine layer pulls back, with temperatures ranging from upper 80s in the mountains to 70s at our beaches.
JUMP TO … Neighborhood Roundup | Latest News | Opinion | Briefs | Event Calendar | Job Board | Puzzles
Tania Ortiz tapped into a newly published state database on police misconduct cases, finding that there have been at least 21 among Santa Cruz County law enforcement agencies since 2013. Of the 21, at least 14 involve an officer using excessive force resulting in either a death or serious injury.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Chris Clark tells Carly Heltzel that his agency will no longer apply for a grant that provides federal officials with information on undocumented people incarcerated in Santa Cruz County jails. It came to his attention just recently, he said, and “I looked into it and came to the conclusion this just wasn’t something I wanted to be involved with.”
A new executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom aims to tackle the mental health crisis disproportionately affecting boys and young men through education, workforce engagement and mentorship initiatives. Clinician Matt Merrill, who works with youth in Santa Cruz County, tells Hillary Ojeda he sees the move as a meaningful first step.
Male mental health is also the topic in Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, where Santa Cruzan Ayo Banjo highlights the need for “emotional literacy taught in schools, not just trauma response after harm” in service of better understanding the issues involved.
Theater critic Jana Marcus returns with a review of Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s ongoing production of “Pericles,” at the Audrey Stanley Grove through Aug. 30. Think “Shakespearean road trip” with emotional payoff and a superb cast, she writes.
To the headlines …
Were you forwarded this newsletter? Sign up here to receive Morning Lookout in your inbox every weekday.
New California database reveals at least 21 police misconduct cases in Santa Cruz County
A newly released police database includes at least 21 cases from Santa Cruz County of law enforcement agencies using excessive force or involved in shootings, along with investigations into officer misconduct on and off duty. Here’s what Tania Ortiz found.
Sheriff vows to drop grant that gave federal officials information on undocumented inmates
Weeks after hearing about the grant, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Chris Clark vowed to stop receiving federal money for giving the Department of Justice information on undocumented immigrants. Carly Heltzel reports.
DAILY DIGEST
There’s more coming from Lookout as Tuesday continues, so make sure you’re clued in on how to keep up with it all. Sign up for free here for breaking news alerts and our library of other newsletters, including Lily Belli on Food, hitting inboxes in mere hours. No smartphone should be without the Lookout Santa Cruz app, available for download from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. You’ll also find our award-winning local coverage on social media, so give Lookout a follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and/or Bluesky.
Our content isn’t possible without community support, so if you’re not already, please consider becoming a Lookout member.
Have a super Tuesday!
Will McCahill