Wednesday, May 13, is happening, and it looks like a pleasant day indeed around Santa Cruz County – plenty of sunshine after the morning clouds dissipate, with high temperatures in the upper 60s to lower 70s.
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District 4 Santa Cruz City Council candidate Hector Marin is due in court Wednesday, Max Chun reports, to be sentenced for driving with a suspended license following a 2024 DUI arrest in Santa Clara County.
The county’s tourism industry grew for the fifth consecutive year in 2025, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look around local business. Visitor spending reaching $1.4 billion – a slight uptick from 2024 – even as tourism officials anticipated a quieter summer season amid tariff and immigration concerns.
The Santa Cruz Vegan Chef Challenge is in the books, and Lily Belli has a look at the winners and the impact of the monthlong event. Corralitos’ Circle & Square Bistro, Vim Dining and Desserts on the Westside and Seabright’s La Posta were among the restaurants taking home honors.
The hump-day headlines also include your chance to name a beer in honor of Scotts Valley turning 60 – away we go.
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This week in Santa Cruz County business: Tourism saw growth in ’25 despite tariff, immigration concerns; farmers fear fertilizer, fuel hikes as growing season kicks off
A fifth consecutive year of growth for area tourism and the impact of the war in Iran on Santa Cruz County agriculture lead off Jessica M. Pasko’s weekly survey of local business. Read it all here.
Corralitos restaurant Circle & Square Bistro wins Santa Cruz Vegan Chef Challenge
Nearly 30 restaurants across Santa Cruz County participated in the county’s first Vegan Chef Challenge in April, offering special plant-based dishes aimed at attracting diners and encouraging restaurants to expand vegan options. Corralitos restaurant Circle & Square Bistro won the competition. Participating chefs said the event brought in new customers and inspired interest in keeping some vegan dishes on their menus permanently. Lily Belli has the story.
DAILY DIGEST
Lots of Wednesday news, and with more coming through the day from Lookout, let’s be sure you’re staying up to speed. Download the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for access to all of our award-winning local coverage, with breaking news notifications, games and more. Sign up here for breaking news alerts via email and for any or all of our other newsletters – all free. And you social media mavens can connect with Lookout on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and/or Threads.
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Thank you for reading – have a great Wednesday.
Will McCahill