Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup Jan. 23 – 28
Good afternoon,
It’s almost the end of January which means the deadline to submit a story for our Journalism Scholarship is nearing (2/23/2025). If you know any students that would like to participate in the scholarship I urge you to let them know soon so they have time to interview and write about an unsung hero of their choosing. I am currently reaching out to PTA groups, if you have any direct contacts I can share this opportunity with I’d love your help! We want to make sure as many students as possible have the opportunity to apply and win the $500 scholarship. My email address is: eetai@lookoutlocal.com
I also would like to thank Mr. Licata, a teacher at Diamond Technology Institute for welcoming me into his classroom for a workshop on journalism and storytelling. I was joined by my fellow THI Excel Fellow, Isabel Cordova, and Lookout’s South County Correspondent, Tania Ortiz, to talk to their Junior English class last Friday. Mr. Licata has our journalism scholarship application as a class assignment and we were thrilled to talk with his students about interview techniques in preparation.
Finally, if you find value in this free newsletter, we’d love for you to 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
Revitalizing downtown, homelessness and roadwork: Watsonville leaders talk 2025 priorities
By Tania Ortiz
It’s a list that doesn’t surprise. Watsonville elected officials want more services and housing for the homeless, initiatives to bring more retail and boost local business and upgrades to roads and water/sewer systems in 2025.
In wake of battery plant fire, Santa Cruz County supervisors plan briefing; Central Coast lawmakers call for investigation
By Christopher Neely
After last week’s fire at the Moss Landing battery plant forced evacuations and caused health and environmental concerns, calls for accountability have increased. The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will hold a briefing next week, while Central Coast lawmakers have called for a thorough and transparent investigation.
Theft concerns, retail’s downward national trend make Rip Curl latest downtown Santa Cruz closure
By Jessica M. Pasko
Rip Curl joined O’Neill, Forever 21 and New Leaf among retailers vacating Pacific Avenue locations in recent months. A Rip Curl manager cited local safety issues, while others pointed to national trends. “These are the headwinds we’re facing,” one downtown Santa Cruz owner said. “If you don’t support your local businesses, they will close.”
Making sense of the giant Moss Landing fire that could set back energy storage
By Dan Gearino / Inside Climate News
Last week’s blaze at the Moss Landing Power Plant could have been worse because of the plant’s design and the types of batteries used.
An approach to immigration, not Trump’s
By Grace Peña Delgado
UC Santa Cruz history professor Grace Peña Delgado is writing a chronicle of the U.S.-Mexico border and in the summer, she and Lookout photographer Kevin Painchaud spent time documenting stories at one Arizona spot along the border, a place locals call the “End-of-the-wall,” because it’s where 34 miles of steel columns dividing the land abruptly end. Building barriers won’t stop immigration, she writes: “Robust climate action, economic investment in vulnerable areas and more expansive legal pathways for asylum-seekers offer a more sustainable path than building walls that funnel families into even deadlier routes.”
CALIFORNIA NEWS
‘Devastating’ layoff notices hit California disabled prison contractors after union dispute
By Joe Garcia / CalMatters
Dozens of disabled workers hired through the nonprofit PRIDE Industries are losing their jobs at a California prison after a union outsourcing dispute.
Why Trump’s conditions on L.A. fire aid put California Republicans in a tough spot
By Yue Stella Yu / CalMatters
All the talk about attaching conditions to California’s federal disaster aid have placed the state’s Republican members of Congress in a quandary: Do they fight for speedy, unconditional relief dollars for wildfire victims in their home state? Or do they fall in line behind President Donald Trump?
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.
EDUCATOR RESOURCES
Kennedy Center Education
The Kennedy Center — the renowned NYC performing arts institution — offers free teaching materials for incorporating the arts into interdisciplinary teaching. Their education division (formerly known as ArtsEdge) provides lesson plans, how-to guides and video resources designed to integrate art into all subject areas.
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