About 400 piles are scheduled to be burned throughout Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Castle Rock State Park and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, including the Fall Creek Unit, between now and April.
Latest News
Watsonville Community Hospital continues search for financial partners; CEO says decision is still months away
Watsonville Community Hospital CEO Stephen Gray says the search for a financial partner is ongoing, with the hospital still months away from a decision. He also told Lookout that the hospital is still recovering from the costs of a cyberattack last year.
Watsonville chief of police arrests alleged gang member
Watsonville Interim Police Chief David Rodriguez stepped away from his usual administrative and managerial duties last week to arrest an alleged gang member carrying a backpack with a gun, drugs and ammunition inside, according to a police statement on social media.
Beach hazards, coastal flood advisory in effect this week for Santa Cruz County
A beach hazards statement is in effect through 10 p.m. Wednesday due to an increased risk for strong sneaker waves and rip currents, and the National Weather Service also issued a coastal flood advisory from 6 a.m. Tuesday to 3 p.m. Sunday due to king tides, which are the highest tides of the year.
ICE has visited Santa Cruz County at least 13 times since July, records show
In the past five months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have visited Santa Cruz County at least 13 times, according to documents from the county sheriff and Watsonville police.
Trio of small earthquakes rattles Santa Cruz County
A trio of earthquakes centered just east of Gilroy was felt throughout the area at 6:16 a.m. on Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Encompass Community Services to stop Head Start child care program after over 40 years
Santa Cruz County nonprofit Encompass Community Services announced Tuesday that it was stopping the Head Start and Early Head Start programs, but did not rule out resuming operations in the future. The organization has run Head Start locally since 1983.
Pianist Benny Green takes the stage alongside UC Santa Cruz Jazz Big Band on Dec. 7
The UC Santa Cruz Jazz Big Band is holding a concert on Dec. 7 at the Music Center Recital Hall, with guest artist Benny Green under the direction of UCSC music lecturer Charles Hamilton.
Santa Cruz County officials mobilize resistance as Trump administration opens California coast to offshore oil drilling
The Trump administration confirmed Thursday that it plans to open the California coast to oil drilling, with two possible leases along the Central Coast. Local officials tell Lookout they’re organizing to fight offshore oil extraction with lawsuits.
In reversal, Watsonville reinstates labor pact with unions, adds exemptions for some projects
The Watsonville City Council reversed its earlier decision to scrap the city’s project labor agreement with trade unions, adding changes that would allow certain projects to be exempt from having to use unionized workers.

