Police are investigating the death of an 18-month-old Santa Cruz girl as a potential fentanyl overdose. Law enforcement officials say, if confirmed, the situation is rare. Harm reduction and substance use disorder professionals agree.
Today’s Top Story
A significant story with interest across the county
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Can Santa Cruz County control its housing destiny? Lookout panel searches for an answer
Lookout will host a two-part panel on Wednesday, July 31, with state Sen. Scott Wiener, Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig, Santa Cruz City Councilmember Sandy Brown, and Sibley Simon of local development/architectural firm Workbench. The in-person session is sold out, but you can stream it live on Facebook.
Posted inLatest News
Newsom’s homeless encampment order: What impact will it have in Santa Cruz County?
Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered state agencies to develop policies to clear homeless encampments. How that order will affect local jurisdictions across California remains unclear.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
New Dominican Hospital residency program aims to speed up local health care
Dignity Health Dominican Hospital and Morehouse School of Medicine are launching Santa Cruz County’s first physician residency program as part of a nationwide initiative by the Atlanta school and the hospital’s parent organization. The hope is to increase the diversity of the physician workforce and to reduce health care disparities.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
With Biden’s departure, only three Santa Cruz County voters will get a say in nominating his successor
The timing of President Joe Biden’s departure from his reelection bid means choosing the next Democratic presidential nominee will be up to 3,949 Democratic delegates across the country, not party primary voters. Three of those delegates live in Santa Cruz County. Who are they?
Posted inLatest News
Ask Lookout: What’s the status of red tide at Santa Cruz County beaches?
While officials say the red tide hasn’t yet reached harmful levels, they’re continuing to monitor toxins at Santa Cruz County beaches. Red tide, or a phytoplankton bloom, began appearing at Rio Del Mar and Seacliff beaches last Wednesday.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘Earth-shattering’: In deep blue Santa Cruz County, politicians react to Biden bowing out
Facing mounting pressure over the past month from fellow Democrats, President Joe Biden has ended his bid for reelection, ensuring a chaotic next 106 days before the November vote. What do Santa Cruz County’s elected officials think?
Posted inEducation
UCSC goal: Housing 10,100 students after current projects, including new Delaware Avenue Project, are completed
A local developer is set to begin construction this summer on three residential buildings on the Westside of Santa Cruz which, once completed, will house 400 UCSC students and offer 60 units to university employees.
Posted inHousing & Development
Apple says it’s funding a housing project in Santa Cruz later this year — but local officials say ‘it’s news to us’
Apple’s newsroom announced an anticipated 2024 groundbreaking for a housing project in Santa Cruz that it is funding through its new Bay Area housing initiative, but details are few. The initiative’s goal is to help developers deliver “high-quality units faster and for significantly less” than current Santa Cruz costs.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Joby Aviation Academy gets Watsonville OK, big win for Climatize, county housing market stays hot
A Joby Aviation school offering aviation career courses for high school, college and professional-level students is coming to Watsonville Airport, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly local business roundup. Elsewhere, a Santa Cruz-based startup that helps renewable energy projects takes home a big honor, plus more news, names, notes and numbers to know.