Longtime political observers see a shift in Watsonville’s political landscape as the 2026 election cycle gets underway. Lookout spoke with current and former elected officials and community leaders about where South County politics is heading.
Today’s Top Story
A significant story with interest across the county
Posted inEducation
Soquel Union Elementary board to consider layoffs as teachers, district reach impasse
The Soquel Union Elementary School District board is set to consider eliminating nearly 17 full-time-equivalent positions Wednesday as contract negotiations with the teachers union reach an impasse over wages and benefits.
Posted inLatest News
Big cats, bigger protections: Santa Cruz County mountain lions now listed as threatened
Mountain lions in Santa Cruz County recently gained new protections under the California Endangered Species Act after years as candidates for listing. Protecting six distinct puma populations around the state is a win for many dedicated researchers, but the move heightens the concerns about potential land-use and livestock impacts for developers, ranchers and farmers.
Posted inLatest News
Murray Street Bridge to allow two-way traffic controlled by signals starting Monday
The City of Santa Cruz will allow two-way traffic along the open lane of the Murray Street Bridge on Monday.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Watsonville Community Hospital sees slight improvement in January finances
After a $23 million loss in 2025, Watsonville Community Hospital saw a slight improvement in its finances in January, according to a presentation from the facility’s chief financial officer to the hospital board this week.
Posted inEducation
UC lecturers are bargaining for a new contract. Who are they and what are they asking for?
Lecturers across the University of California system will begin bargaining March 5 for a new contract as they push for permanent job status, higher pay and stronger academic freedom protections, arguing that despite teaching more than 30% of undergraduate courses, they remain treated as second-class faculty.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Expiring housing vouchers and new citizenship requirements: Housing Authority braces for policy changes that could cost people their homes
The Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County is facing a number of serious concerns this year, including the expiration of pandemic-era emergency housing vouchers and proposed changes to federal policy that could mean more households are ineligible for assistance. However, the organization’s executive director is “cautiously optimistic” that it will be able to provide an alternative.
Posted inEducation
Live Oak superintendent resigns, school board approves cutting 6 teachers, mental health clinician, more staff
Live Oak School District’s superintendent announced his resignation effective June 30 as the school board approved nearly 11 staff reductions — including six teachers and a mental health clinician — to address a structural budget deficit driven by declining enrollment and rising costs.
Posted inEducation
UCSC explores making changes to its unique college system model
UC Santa Cruz administrators are exploring potential changes to the campus’ distinctive residential college system — modeled after Oxford and Cambridge universities — as part of a yearlong review aimed at evaluating how to ensure the colleges best serve students.
Posted inLatest News
California State Parks acquires 153-acre property for Big Basin expansion
The $2.4 million acquisition of the NoraBella property along Highway 236 is seen as a key step in the post-CZU fire recovery of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.