Timing the blazes between soggy storms, California State Parks workers and volunteers stage prescribed burns of piles of collected brush, branches and limbs to reduce the danger of uncontrolled fire and to make the forest more healthy.
Today’s Top Story
A significant story with interest across the county
Posted inLatest News
Flood warnings turn to evacuation orders in Felton, Watsonville; Santa Cruz closes wharf Friday with high surf forecast
Residents of the Felton Grove neighborhood along the San Lorenzo River and of areas of Watsonville along Corralitos and Salsipuedes creeks were ordered to evacuate Thursday morning after heavy rains. In Santa Cruz, the city will close the municipal wharf Friday with big swells forecast.
Posted inLatest News
Attorneys deliver closing statements in Adrian Gonzalez trial; jury begins deliberation
The attorneys in Adrian Gonzalez’s trial for release gave lengthy closing arguments on Tuesday before the court sent the jury to deliberate on the fate of the 25-year-old convicted of the 2015 murder of Santa Cruz 8-year-old Madyson Middleton. Prosecutor Tara George argued that Gonzalez is nowhere near ready for release and continues to deceive people about who he really is, while Gonzalez attorney Charlie Stevens said that he is not the same person he was when he committed the crime nearly a decade ago and has learned to deal with the mental health issues that created the conditions for the crime.
Posted inAptos
As a sale for Bayview Hotel falls through, historic Aptos property is back on the market
A developer who was in escrow for the Bayview Hotel in Aptos has pulled out of the sale, citing a hesitancy to take on such a large project given the amount of work that is needed to bring the business back into a fully operating hotel and restaurant. The owners continue to look for a buyer.
Posted inLatest News
Moss Landing residents file lawsuit against Vistra weeks after battery facility fire
A group of community members filed a lawsuit against Vistra Corp., a Texas-based company that owns the Moss Landing power plant and battery storage facility. The lawsuit demands a full investigation into what caused the fire on Jan. 16, compensation for damages caused by the incident and updating safety and fire prevention measures.
Posted inWestside / Downtown
Ask Lookout: Why is there a ‘door to nowhere’ above Front Street?
Golden Gate Villa was built for Gold Rush-era mining entrepreneur Frank McLaughlin, and the “door to nowhere” above Front Street is just part of the story for a home that’s on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Posted inFood & Drink
Low stock numbers usher in a ‘devastating’ Dungeness crab season
After a late start to the Dungeness crab season, fishers along the West Coast, including Santa Cruz County, are reporting extremely low stock numbers. It’s not clear why there are so few full-sized crabs, and it could be just a “down year,” according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The low numbers are leading some Santa Cruz fishers to move on to other fisheries early, while others are capitalizing on the high price, which has doubled from previous years.
Posted inLatest News
Strong winds and rain lead to power outages in Santa Cruz County; 1,800 still dark early Wednesday
After a blustery Tuesday afternoon that knocked out power to more than 3,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers in Santa Cruz, more than 1,800 were in the dark as of 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, mainly in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘United we can do many things’: Protesters advocate for immigrant rights in Santa Cruz and Watsonville
Hundreds of community members in Santa Cruz and Watsonville took part in protests Monday afternoon advocating for immigrant rights as President Donald Trump attempts to make sweeping changes to immigration policies.
Posted inLatest News
Thairie Ritchie vigil: Chants, remembrances and a demand for information
More than 300 people gathered Sunday to grieve and honor Thairie Ritchie, the prominent local civil rights activist who set himself on fire Jan. 20 atop Santa Cruz’s Black Lives Matter street mural. As Ritchie faces a “a long and challenging recovery,” several speakers recalled his activism and renewed demands for the City of Santa Cruz to release more information about the incident.