People who live near Moss Landing still have more questions than answers about the massive fire that started Jan. 16, 2025, at the world’s second-largest battery storage facility.
Today’s Top Story
A significant story with interest across the county
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Watsonville Community Hospital faces shortage of ICU nurses as it continues to struggle financially
Administrators at Watsonville Community Hospital say they’ll need to make difficult decisions to keep it operating, which doesn’t sit well with nurses. Meanwhile, there’s a staffing shortage in the intensive care unit, and nurses are rallying to keep it and other essential departments open.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Supervisors move battery storage rules forward to environmental review; some residents are disappointed
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve new regulations for battery storage facilities, despite opposition from residents who want a more stringent ordinance. The rules will now undergo environmental review.
Posted inLatest News
City council votes to end Santa Cruz’s contract with Flock Safety
The Santa Cruz City Council voted 6-1 to end the city’s contract with Flock Safety at its Tuesday meeting following data breaches, community pushback, and a recommendation from three councilmembers that the city pull out of the contract.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Supply of Santa Cruz County homes for sale contracts in December, while sales stay high as 2026 begins
The Santa Cruz County housing market saw a seasonal drop in the number of homes available to buy in December, but sales remained largely level with November, and high for December.
Posted inEducation
UC Santa Cruz family student housing opening delayed about six months
The opening of UC Santa Cruz’s new family student housing complex, which includes 120 two-bedroom units and an expanded child care center, has been delayed by about six months due to construction issues, university officials said. Student families say the repeated delays are disrupting housing and child care plans and straining household budgets as they wait for the long-anticipated move.
Posted inFood & Drink
Santa Cruz seafood entrepreneur faces felony stalking, 34 additional charges after years of alleged harassment
Santa Cruz entrepreneur Clarice Owens, once featured on NBC’s “Today” show, is facing charges of felony stalking and 34 misdemeanors after prosecutors allege she harassed and threatened dozens of neighbors, colleagues and business partners.
Posted inLatest News
Residents gather in Watsonville to remember life of woman killed by immigration officer in Minneapolis
About 100 people gathered in Watsonville on Thursday evening to remember Renee Nicole Good, the 37-year-old woman shot and killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Posted inLatest News
With Capitola Avenue bridge reopening in sight, Highway 1 to close overnight Sunday through Thursday
Caltrans will shut down sections of Highway 1 overnight from Sunday through Thursday so crews can remove temporary falsework on the Capitola Avenue overcrossing. The bridge between Capitola and Soquel could open by the end of January.
Posted inLatest News
Ask Lookout: What prompts a tornado warning, and do we have a ‘tornado season’?
Two tornado warnings over the past two weeks likely surprised many Santa Cruz County residents. No tornadoes touched down in the county this year, but one did in Scotts Valley at the end of 2024. So what prompts a tornado warning from the National Weather Service? And when, if ever, is tornado season locally?