West Cliff Drive finally reopened to two-way traffic this summer as Santa Cruz public works crews finished up repairs to extensive damage from the 2023 storms. Now, officials are making long-term plans for the road, and hope to finally get reimbursed for the emergency repairs.
Today’s Top Story
A significant story with interest across the county
Posted inLatest News
Newsmakers 2025: Those we lost
Santa Cruz County lost a number of prominent people in 2025, including activists, journalists, artists and academics.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsmakers 2025: A year of grassroots protest at Indivisible
Margaret and Roya Ghodsi, a mother-daughter duo from Capitola, are emblematic of a growing number of local residents not active in politics before 2025 who began to participate in protests after Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
Posted inLatest News
Body found near Davenport confirmed by family to be swimmer killed in Lovers Point shark attack
A body discovered near the Davenport shoreline has been identified as Erica Fox, 55, of Monterey County, who went missing a week ago while swimming at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove following a suspected shark attack.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsmakers 2025: Approaching final year in office, Fred Keeley reflects on a busy ’25 and ‘promises kept’
The new downtown expansion district, an affordable housing measure and a rail-trail compromise all came to fruition in 2025. Now, Fred Keeley, Santa Cruz’s first four-year elected mayor, looks to his final year in office.
Posted inLatest News
Two new ‘churches’ show Santa Cruz may be leading the next wave of psychedelics
Two local churches – Holy Trinity of Divine Church and the Rising Phoenix Entheogenic Temple – now make it easy to become a member and “buy” a wide assortment of raw mushrooms, gummies, chocolates and capsules. Together, they make a Santa Cruz a national leader in envisioning what psychedelic legality might look like.
Posted inEducation
Newsmakers 2025: Watsonville activist reflects on monthlong hunger strike against pesticides
Watsonville activist Omar Dieguez discusses the impact of his monthlong hunger strike against pesticide applications near schools in the Pajaro Valley and also shares more details on his work to empower youth in his community.
Posted inLatest News
Tornado warning for Santa Cruz County canceled
The National Weather Service has canceled a tornado warning for Santa Cruz County. The warning was issued at 12:19 p.m. Thursday and scheduled to remain in effect until 1 p.m., but it was lifted shortly before 1 p.m.
Posted inLatest News
Thousands without power following first of two holiday storms
More than 11,000 Santa Cruz County residents were out of power as of late Wednesday morning after the first of two storms brought strong winds to the region. National Weather Service meteorologists say similar conditions are expected Wednesday night, along with 2 to 4 inches of rain by Friday evening.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsmakers 2025: Food and toiletries distributions for undocumented ag workers become offseason lifeline
As the Pajaro Valley’s growing season comes to a close, many of its workers turn to a monthly food distribution event hosted by the Center for Farmworker Families to alleviate the financial burdens that come with no work for a few months.