Morning Lookout: 49ers fan in coma after L.A. beating; Bonny Doon’s predator reprieve

By Will McCahill

Source: Lookout Santa Cruz

A brisk good morning to you, Lookout fam! It’s Thursday, Feb. 3, and the forecast calls for mostly sunny skies around Santa Cruz County, with temps in the low to mid-60s.

Much to get to today:

An appellate court has blocked the placement of a man diagnosed as a sexually violent predator in a Bonny Doon home.
A 49ers fan is in a coma after an apparent beating outside SoFi Stadium during Sunday’s NFC title game between the Niners and the Los Angeles Rams.
Santa Cruz County is back to testing wastewater in hopes of creating better surveillance of COVID-19.
And Lookout’s Lily Belli took on the tough task of sampling readers’ favorite local foodie goods, and she reports back on some of her faves.

So read on for those headlines, plus our latest update on COVID vaccines and testing and more:

49ers fan in coma after apparent beating outside SoFi Stadium

The circumstances shared some similarities with the 2011 beating outside Dodger Stadium that left Giants fan and Capitola resident Bryan Stow with brain damage. Our partners at the Los Angeles Times have the latest.

Appeals court orders pause on the placement of a sexually violent predator in Santa Cruz County

Members of the Bonny Doon community turned out Tuesday morning

A Santa Cruz judge had approved of the placement of Michael Cheek in a Bonny Doon home in November but then issued a stay. Get the details here from Lookout’s Hillary Ojeda.

➤ PREVIOUSLY: A test of ‘Bonny Doon Strong’: Why a ‘sexually violent predator’ should not be this community’s next battle (Lookout)

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A LOOKOUT MEMBER

Flushing COVID away

The Watsonville Wastewater Treatment Plant serves about 55,000 residents in the city and surrounding areas.

Consistent wastewater testing begins again this week in Santa Cruz County in an effort to know more earlier about local COVID trends. Lookout’s Max Chun explains how it all works.

➤ EARLIER: They’re testing your what? Wastewater plays growing role in search for COVID-19 countywide (Lookout)

Here we take ‘Eat Local’ seriously

A list of products made in Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County is ridiculously fortunate when it comes to locally produced products you can pick up at pretty much any grocery store you shop at. Lookout’s Lily Belli takes us through just a few of her favorites.

➤ MORE FROM LILY: Find all of Lookout’s food and drink coverage here

Santa Cruz County vaccine update

Jeffrey Toth, RN, administers a coronavirus PCR test

Lookout tracked down the latest data on vaccination rates and where to find a COVID shot or test, plus wait, cost and turnaround times. Find it all here.

➤ MORE ON COVID: Omicron hit Southern California much harder than the Bay Area. Here’s why (Los Angeles Times)

How climate change is threatening the future of the Winter Olympics

A snowboarder catches some big air on a mountain slope

As global warming continues to take its toll, the number of training cities gets smaller and cities able to host the Winter Olympics gets fewer. The Times surveys the scene on the eve of the opening of the Beijing Games.

➤ MORE CHALLENGES: COVID remains the most formidable, frightening foe at Beijing Olympics (Los Angeles Times)

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STUDENT ACCESS

Around the county ...

➤ Townhome project featuring historic Watsonville schoolhouse on the move (The Pajaronian)
➤ East Zayante Road repair scheduled to take place over summer (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
➤ Colorado fire in Big Sur 100% contained as another wildfire reported along Highway 1 (Monterey Herald)
➤ Citing mountain lions, wealthy Bay Area town blocks new housing development (SFGate)

Plenty to digest as we head into Thursday — but bookmark our website and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for plenty more coming through the Lookout pipeline, including Best Bets, recommendations from Wallace Baine and Team BOLO for things to do all over Santa Cruz County this weekend and beyond. And you can get those Best Bets — and all of our newsletters — delivered right to your phone or inbox by visiting our Lookout Newsletter & Text Center.

All of this isn’t possible without community support — so please, consider supporting crucial local journalism by becoming a Lookout member.

Now get out there and slay Thursday!

Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz