On the first day of Theo Lengyel’s jury trial, prosecutors painted defendant Lengyel as an alcoholic with anger problems and a history of abusive behavior. Lengyel’s defense attorney did not dispute that he killed his girlfriend, Capitola resident Alice “Alyx” Herrmann, but disputed the characterization of Lengyel as a violent man and argued that Herrmann’s death was not murder.
Today’s Top Story
A significant story with interest across the county
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Local hotel industry finishes July strong
In her weekly roundup, Jessica M. Pasko reports on an occupancy uptick for Santa Cruz County hotels – with a slight dip in room rates – plus comings and goings, numbers to know and events for your calendar.
Posted inEducation
UC Santa Cruz protesters see police warning as attempt to quell Gaza activism
People arrested at the UC Santa Cruz Gaza solidarity encampment in May say they received a letter from university police about their charges. Two UCSC community members tell Lookout they believe the university is trying to discourage activism on campus.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County fentanyl deaths are down, but public health officials express caution about the trend
While Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office data points to a decrease in fentanyl-related deaths so far in 2024, public health and harm reduction professionals think it might be too early to confidently say if this trend will continue. They point to a number of actions that could be contributing to better outcomes — as well as the gaps in response that remain.
Posted inFood & Drink
Santa Cruz pizza guide: Does our pizza-obsessed county have its own style?
Santa Cruz County is home to more than 70 places to buy pizza, and can boast a higher pizza-per-capita ratio than New York City and Chicago. Our little coastal community’s pizza obsession is rooted in California culinary history, but modern chefs are putting their own spin on things with local ingredients and fresh takes on regional styles. Local pizza makers weigh in on whether Santa Cruz has developed its own style.
Posted inHousing & Development
Ask Lookout: What are the big wrapped units near Seventh Avenue and Brommer Street?
It’s difficult to keep housing developments in Santa Cruz County straight these days, so if you saw wrapped-up modular homes on the lot at Seventh Avenue and Brommer Street, you might have thought yet another development was preparing for groundbreaking. Not quite, but it is the delivery of housing units for a long-planned Soquel project aiming to serve homeless veterans, youth emerging from the foster care system and a limited number of families.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Amid COVID surges, Santa Cruz County officials ‘strongly recommend’ updated vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine for the fall, which will target the highly infectious KP variants that were main drivers of this year’s summer surge in Santa Cruz County. Local public health officials expect a more specific timeline for the rollout within weeks. Only 23% of Santa Cruz County residents are up to date on recommended COVID vaccination.
Posted inEducation
Santa Cruz County school districts will ask voters to borrow millions for repairs, workforce housing
On this November’s ballot, five school bond measures, totaling $525 million, propose making infrastructure repairs to roofs and athletic fields, modernizing classrooms, and in some cases, building rental apartments for staff and teachers. District leaders talked to Lookout about some of the major projects the bond measures, if approved, would fund.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Judge won’t block Santa Cruz soda tax ballot language former candidate says is misleading
Former Santa Cruz City Council candidate Hector Marin says he’s appealing a judge’s dismissal of his lawsuit challenging the wording of November ballot language for a proposed city sugary drink tax. He claims that a list of potential uses for revenue from the tax that will appear on the ballot — youth and senior programs, for example — is misleading because it will actually be considered general fund revenue that could be used for any city expense.
Posted inLatest News
As Adrian Gonzalez’s release goes before a jury, attorneys question whether he can get a fair trial
Jury selection began this week for Adrian Gonzalez’s upcoming trial as he seeks release upon aging out of the state’s juvenile justice system this fall, nine years after raping and murdering 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton. While Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Denine Guy denied a request for a venue change last week, the harrowing details of the case remain a focal point for the community. Given that, can Gonzalez get a fair trial? Longtime defense attorneys aren’t so sure.