Morning Lookout: How the indoor venue scene may be affected by the latest Delta news
Good Morning!
Looks like more high humidity for us today here in Santa Cruz, where the temps will stay low (60ish) but the stickiness will remain high (87% humidity).
I knew there was a reason I liked the state of Vermont. My one visit to Burlington back in the day had a very cool Santa Cruz-ish vibe to it. Well, I mention Vermont because it is the most vaccinated state in the country. Eight percent of its 650,000 people have has at least one shot. This CNN story shows what can happen when things are looking good. And, well, it contrasts with what we’ve got going on here and in so many other places.
But I digress. Let’s get to the headlines...
Outdoor shows to go on after COVID outbreak linked to Felton Music Hall
The latest: The venue has shut down indoor events until Aug. 5 after news that numerous people 一 patrons as well as members and crew of the band Grateful Shred 一 tested positive after two shows earlier this month. “To be shut down for so long and have this happen, it’s heartbreaking,” owner Thomas Cussins said. More from our Neil Strebig and Wallace Baine.
ALSO: CSU to require COVID-19 vaccinations for students, faculty, staff on campus this fall (LA Times)
Welcome to his world of wonders
Classic Bonny Doon artist Mattie Leeds has kept creative juices flowing: At 71, one of Santa Cruz’s most prominent visual artists for generations has no use for complacency. He even used the extra pandemic isolation to discover the power of Instagram for connecting to other artists. More from Wallace here.
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County hires new executive director
New leader named: With former executive director Stephen Slade retiring, Sarah Newkirk will assume the role for the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. More from Neil Strebig here.
ALSO: Santa Cruz Warriors named ‘Franchise of the Year’ for second time
Unraveling the mysterious mutations that make Delta the most transmissible COVID virus yet
A deeper look: Scientists are trying to piece together why the Delta variant so readily infects unvaccinated Americans, spewing 1,000 times more virus particles. Kaiser Health News digs in here.
To vaccinate or not? For U.S. Olympic athletes, the debate creates division
No USA unity: The Olympics is supposed to be an event that brings people together, but controversy over vaccination is in full force in Tokyo for U.S. athletes. More from the LA Times here.
BILES OUT: Simone Biles withdraws from individual all-around gymnastics competition at Tokyo Olympics to focus on mental well-being (ESPN)
ALSO: A stormy 24 hours: Stars in unexpected trouble at increasingly turbulent Tokyo Olympics (LAT)
A Pasadena startup got billions selling COVID tests, earning executives luxury homes and jets
How they did it: Innova Medical Group in Pasadena has grossed more than $2.7 billion importing antigen tests from China and exporting them to the U.K., despite questions over their accuracy. More from the Times here.
Quick Take
Camp Tannery Arts is in session this August for kids aged 7-15! This camp will be featuring 15+ experienced artists who...
‘Is something around the corner?’ Small businesses reopen to find new challenges
Small business struggle: California’s economy is no longer at its nadir. But small businesses are still working to get back to normal, and are struggling with hiring, childcare for their workforce and the uncertainty of future outbreaks. More from CalMatters here.
That’s it for this humid Hump Day.
Team Lookout will pick me up on Lookout PM and I’ll see you back here tomorrow.
Mark Conley
mark@lookoutlocal.com
