Quick Take:
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that our collective health depends on each other. The same is true when it...
Good morning to you, Santa Cruz! It’s Thursday, Jan. 6, and our forecast calls for high temperatures around 60 amid partly cloudy skies.
Launching right into a busy morning:
- We’ve got our weekly update on vaccination rates and where to get shots and COVID tests, wait times and more.
- A celebrated Santa Cruz theater festival is the latest local in-person event to be canceled as the Omicron surge continues.
- In Washington, President Joe Biden launched a blistering attack on former President Donald Trump on the first anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
- Increased testing, improved masks and more are the theme of the week as the county’s students head back to school, Lookout found.
- Wednesday’s arraignment of the men charged in last summer’s vandalism of the downtown Black Lives Matter mural brought mixed results.
- And Lookout checked in with India Joze as the iconic Santa Cruz restaurant prepares to serve its final meals.
Let’s get to it:
Santa Cruz County vaccine update
With local infection rates skyrocketing, Lookout updates you on where to find a COVID shot or test, plus wait, cost and turnaround times. Get the latest info here.
➤ DATA DISCONNECT? If you take an at-home coronavirus test, who keeps track of the results? Probably no one (Los Angeles Times)
Biden pledges to defend democracy on Jan. 6 anniversary
President Joe Biden challenged the nation to reject political violence on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Our partners at the Los Angeles Times have coverage here.
➤ ONE YEAR AGO: ‘We cannot let this slow us down,’ Rep. Panetta says as he shelters in D.C. office after attack (Lookout)
Safety concerns shut down the comeback of celebrated theater festival
Santa Cruz’s Actors’ Theatre has again had to shelve “8 Tens @ 8,” this time amid the Omicron surge, but new artistic director Andrew Ceglio still has ambitious plans for 2022 and beyond. Lookout’s Wallace Baine has the updates on a local institution.
➤ MORE FROM WALLACE: Find all of his columns in one place
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Checking in on India Joze in its final days
The iconic Santa Cruz eatery is set to serve its last meals Saturday, but that doesn’t mean the man behind it is getting out of the game. Get the download via video from Lookout’s Max Chun and Giovanni Moujaes.
➤ RELATED: The Joe behind Joze: New ‘Foodie’ doc pays tribute to a Santa Cruz culinary legend (Lookout)
Back to school amid Omicron
There’s been greater emphasis on testing and improved masks from K-12 to UC Santa Cruz as students and educators return from the holiday break. Lookout’s Hillary Ojeda surveys the scene.
➤ MORE ON OMICRON: California extends indoor mask mandate as Omicron surges (Los Angeles Times)
Mixed results in arraignment of men accused of vandalizing Santa Cruz’s Black Lives Matter mural
Brandon Bochat pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony vandalism charges with a hate crime enhancement, while Hagan Warner was granted a delay as he seeks a new attorney. Lookout’s Grace Stetson has more on what’s next.
➤ PREVIOUSLY: Men accused of vandalizing Black Lives Matter mural to stand trial (Lookout)
Around the county …
➤ Team rescues Santa Cruz County woman trapped in fire burn scar (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
➤ Pajaro Valley’s congressional representation will change (The Pajaronian)
➤ Workshops to be held for Soquel bike and pedestrian safety project (KSBW-TV)
That’s all for right now, but bookmark our website and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for everything Lookout has on tap today, including another helping of Best Bets from Wallace Baine and Team BOLO. Be the first to get those Best Bets, breaking news and more by visiting our Lookout Newsletter & Text Center.
Today is a particularly good day to do something to bolster our democracy, and local news is a key piece of the puzzle — so please, if you’re not already, consider becoming a Lookout member. Our content isn’t possible without community support.
Enjoy the day, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow (Friday!) morning.
Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz