A shooting that left two victims in critical condition occurred on Aug. 8 in the parking lot outside the Crow’s Nest following the Thursday Beach BBQ Party, a free recurring event series held on the beach in front of the Santa Cruz Harbor restaurant. The Crow’s Nest confirmed that the remaining three events planned for the season will continue through the end of the month.
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Posted inLatest News
UCSC is replacing its 30-year-old buses, but not because of fatal crash
UC Santa Cruz is replacing buses that are more than 30 years old, but officials say the move is unrelated to a fatal accident involving one of them. Last week, the university said the cause of the crash that led to driver Dan Stevenson’s death was due to his failure to negotiate a left turn in the road and had nothing to do with mechanical failure or deficiencies with the vehicle.
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Two people shot outside crowded Crow’s Nest restaurant Thursday night
Santa Cruz police confirmed that two people were shot outside of the Crow’s Nest restaurant on Thursday night. Both remained in critical condition in hospital on Friday. Police are investigating a suspect and motive in the shooting and are encouraging witnesses to come forward.
Posted inEducation
UCSC accepting more students, but enrollment isn’t growing
Despite again accepting a record number of first-year students, overall enrollment at UC Santa Cruz won’t grow this year. It will be enrolling about 5,700 first-year and transfer students this fall, but overall undergraduate enrollment will be flat at about 17,800 students.
Posted inFood & Drink
Coming to Santa Cruz County school cafeterias: More meals made from scratch
Last week, staff members from kitchens at five different local school districts participated in a weeklong training on how to incorporate more from-scratch foods into their menus. Since California’s Universal Meals Program launched during the pandemic, local schools have seen a surge in students getting at least one meal per day on campus. New funding is making it easier for schools to pursue more healthy options for kids, but school representatives say their biggest challenges are logistical, including time for training and preparation, and having adequate staff.
Posted inEducation
UC Santa Cruz facing budget cuts; layoffs likely
The chief financial officer at UC Santa Cruz says the university has tough decisions to make as it addresses a $100 million shortfall. In an interview with Lookout, Ed Reiskin said the budget office will likely have to implement layoffs.
Posted inLatest News
Adrian Gonzalez release could be ordered Tuesday, 9 years after murder of Madyson Middleton
On Tuesday, a Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge will decide whether Adrian Gonzalez, convicted as a juvenile for the 2015 murder of Madyson “Maddy” Middleton, will be released before his 25th birthday in October or head to a jury trial to determine his next steps. Here are the possible scenarios.
Posted inLatest News
‘So tragic’: Santa Cruz toddler’s possible fentanyl overdose death ‘rare’ as cases spike
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.
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.