Professional surfer and Santa Cruz native Shaun Burns just spent six months out of the water after a recent surfing injury. He learned something many Santa Cruz County locals forget: The ocean is a gift, not a guarantee. Here, he reminds us that Saturday is International Surfing Day and argues that surfing is about far more than catching waves — it also provides mental relief, community and a deeper connection to the coast.
Environment
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California scales back golden mussel safeguards at vital reservoir, alarming experts
California ends boat inspections meant to keep destructive golden mussels out of Lake Oroville, balancing a new risk analysis with the ongoing costs.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California Democrats threaten to block Newsom priorities over imperiled climate deal
Gov. Gavin Newsom endorsed new carbon market rules that could drastically shrink the state’s funding for climate projects, threatening the spending deal he struck with legislators last year. Senate Democrats aren’t having it.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Supervisors move forward with ballot measure strengthening offshore drilling ordinance
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is moving forward with a November ballot measure to make changes to an ordinance that requires voters to approve any onshore facility of over 20,000 square feet that supports offshore drilling operations.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California air regulators update a key climate program, sparking pushback from environmentalists
California air regulators updated the rules of a key climate program on Friday in a move widely protested by environmental groups who said the changes would weaken the program and undercut efforts to curb planet-warming emissions.
Posted inLatest News
California turns to AI as whale deaths spike
Whales have often gone unnoticed by mariners, but an artificial intelligence-powered detection network launched this week is designed to track them day and night. The effort comes amid an alarming rise in gray whale deaths in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Posted inLatest News
Fire in ‘Galapagos of North America’ off California coast risks species found nowhere else
The Channel Islands, off the Santa Barbara coast, are home to hundreds of unique species, and a blaze is tearing through one of the archipelago’s most untouched lands, swallowing nearly a third of Santa Rosa Island.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Data centers are guzzling California’s water. We have no idea how much
Data centers are expanding into water-stressed California communities, but lax disclosure rules keep the public in the dark about actual usage.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
Big Basin voted best state park for hiking
Big Basin Redwoods State Park, devastated six years ago by the CZU Lightning Complex fires, has been voted the best park in California for hiking, according to the California State Parks Foundation.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
California’s new plastic recycling rules spark fights from all sides
California set the country’s most ambitious plastic recycling deadline. Now, both environmental advocates and plastic producers could head to court.
