Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup Feb. 5 – Feb. 11
Good afternoon,
I hope everyone had a good weekend and a great Superbowl watching experience. There are about two weeks left for students to submit their Unsung Hero Journalism Scholarship story! If you know a student who would like a chance to be a published author and win $500 please tell them about this scholarship opportunity. There is still lots of time and two weeks is more than enough time to complete a good, solid, award winning story. If you are in contact with any parent groups that you think would like to know about this opportunity I’d love to reach out. My email is eetai@lookoutlocal.com.
There are two news quizzes for the month of January that students can complete in class or as a homework assignment. You can find them in this newsletter under Educator Resources.
If you find value in this free newsletter, please share it with your colleagues. Together, we can grow this community of educators and amplify the impact of bringing local stories and media literacy into classrooms. Invite them to sign up using this link!
Current events to use in your classroom
Explore the linked lesson plans below for simple ways to facilitate reflection on these local events. Interested in more stories? Browse all our recent coverage here.
LOCAL NEWS
‘United we can do many things’: Protesters advocate for immigrant rights in Santa Cruz and Watsonville
By Tania Ortiz
Hundreds of community members in Santa Cruz and Watsonville took part in protests Monday afternoon advocating for immigrant rights as President Donald Trump attempts to make sweeping changes to immigration policies.
Moss Landing residents file lawsuit against Vistra weeks after battery facility fire
By Tania Ortiz
A group of community members filed a lawsuit against Vistra Corp., a Texas-based company that owns the Moss Landing power plant and battery storage facility. The lawsuit demands a full investigation into what caused the fire on Jan. 16, compensation for damages caused by the incident and updating safety and fire prevention measures.
Planning commission advances Santa Cruz City Schools’ 100-unit housing project; city council to vote March 11
By Hillary Ojeda
Santa Cruz City Schools’ workforce housing project got unanimous approval from the city’s planning commission on Thursday. District officials say that the project is scheduled to go before the city council for a vote on March 11, paving the way for construction.
After Santa Cruz encampment sweep that resulted in arrests, homeless advocacy groups decry ‘cruelty and shame’
By Max Chun
A homeless encampment sweep along Coral Street in Santa Cruz last week was pre-planned, said a city spokesperson, and resulted in several arrests. Two homeless advocacy and mutual aid groups expressed their disapproval of the practice of sweeps and called on the city and county to invest in supportive measures rather than on resources for sweeps.
Taxpayers Against Genocide lawsuit over funding Israeli military now includes Jimmy Panetta, District 19
By Unhae Langis
Four Santa Cruz County locals, including author Unhae Langis, have joined a Northern California class action lawsuit known as Taxpayers Against Genocide, which charges that congressional representatives – including Rep. Jimmy Panetta and Sen. Alex Padilla – abused their “tax and spend” authority when they voted to allocate $26.38 billion in military aid to Israel on April 20, 2024. “The lawsuit appeals to the moral revulsion of American taxpayers who condemn genocide to defend a shared humanity,” Langis writes.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
As California’s fire season grows, state senators push for more year-round firefighters
By Sameea Kamal / CalMatters
Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire proposed that state firefighters work full time in place of the seasonal workforce the agency currently staffs for nine months each year.
More than 2 million acres of local land in California designated as ‘high’ or ‘very high’ fire danger areas
By Julie Cart / CalMatters
In some areas, hazards have surged. Buildings in the highest hazard zones will be subject to the strictest fire-resiliency rules. New Bay Area maps are coming later this month, with new Central Coast maps due in March.
Student Opportunities
Journalism Scholarship
Our annual Journalism Scholarship is back! Lookout’s journalism scholarship invites all high school students in Santa Cruz County to apply. The top three winners will each receive $500, and the top 10 will be featured on our site. Students can enter individually or as part of a class project if you want to learn more click here. Teachers interested in having their class participate this year should contact me, Eetai Shwartz, at eetai@lookoutlocal.com
Student Stories
Student Stories is a place for students to have their voices heard by the community and the rest of Santa Cruz County. It is designed to showcase stories, events, clubs, and opinions authored by students in Santa Cruz County. Students can either submit ideas or completed stories. Learn more here and reach out if you have any questions.
News Quiz
There are two news quizzes for the month of January for students to read and answer questions about. You can find the news quizzes here.
‘We’re drowning’: Dominican nurses raise alarms over staffing, patient care
Quick take: Nurses at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz say staffing levels aren’t meeting the needs of patients who are arriving with more severe conditions than in prior years. They told Lookout that hospital administrators aren’t doing enough to address their concerns.
Quick take: Santa Cruz County agents see a glimmer of hope in new state regulations aimed at enticing insurance companies back to the California market, though questions about access and affordability remain.
EDUCATOR RESOURCES
Current Event Discussion Guide
- Our current event discussion guide is a great activity to engage with local news and can be used for any article. Below is the lesson plan and the bilingual guide.
- Current Event Discussion Guide Lesson Plan (PDF)
- Bilingual Current Event Discussion Guide (PDF)
Educator Page
- You can find more resources on our Educator Page, including a media literacy guide, specific new quizzes and more.
Reminder on student access
- If any of your students are having trouble with their free access, have them sign up for their free student membership with their personal email address at this link.
Thank you for all the hard work you do in the community and for supporting our educational programs, helping the younger generations learn media literacy skills, and become invested community members and democratic citizens. If you’d like to learn more about our school programs, get more involved or have any questions, please reach out.
Best,
Eetai