H&H Fresh Fish Co. in the Santa Cruz Harbor has seen an uptick in customers since the city reopened the Murray Street Bridge to eastbound traffic last week. But businesses on the west side of the bridge continue to suffer almost a year into the three-year construction project, and say they’ve lost faith that the city is listening.
Today’s Top Story
A significant story with interest across the county
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Q&A: Matt Mahan on how growing up in Watsonville shaped run for California governor
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who was raised in Watsonville, says his working-class upbringing in the Pajaro Valley — shaped by immigrant farmworker communities, Catholic schooling and parents who lived paycheck to paycheck — informs his bid for California governor.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Former county supervisor John Leopold wins Grammy as executive producer of zydeco tribute album to legend Clifton Chenier
Former Santa Cruz County supervisor John Leopold made his debut at the top of the music industry on Sunday, winning a Grammy as the executive producer of a tribute album to Clifton Chenier, a giant in zydeco dance music originating from Louisiana.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Watsonville Community Hospital reports nearly $23 million loss in 2025
Watsonville Community Hospital reported losses of nearly $23 million in 2025 following a challenging year of fewer patient visits and changes to federal and state funding. Hospital leadership expects to have an update by March on its search for a private partner to help shore up its finances.
Posted inFood & Drink
The best things I ate and drank in Santa Cruz County in January
Defying January doldrums, Lookout food and drink correspondent Lily Belli launches a monthly food-and-drink dispatch from Santa Cruz County’s dining scene. She selects from a month of eating to highlight brothless ramen, a revived Syrian pop-up, the return of a Capitola classic and hand-pulled noodle soup as the most memorable bites.
Posted inLatest News
More than 1,000 students throng downtown Santa Cruz in anti-ICE protest
More than 1,000 students from local schools staged a walkout and marched through downtown Santa Cruz on Friday to protest against ICE and Trump administration policies before settling in outside the county courthouse.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Residents ‘vehemently oppose’ proposed Catalyst project as developers, city officials present plans
A Thursday meeting hosted by representatives from the City of Santa Cruz and the developer and architect of a proposed project that would demolish downtown music venue The Catalyst met with frustration and skepticism from residents and nearby business owners.
Posted inLatest News
Tweaks to point-in-time count outreach could result in more accurate tally this year
Volunteers from all over Santa Cruz County met at the crack of dawn Thursday to conduct this year’s point-in-time count, an annual attempt to estimate the number of unhoused community members. While the count is never complete, housing professionals hope that a few changes to their strategy will help generate a more accurate count this year.
Posted inLatest News
Road network considered in ‘fair’ condition, but Santa Cruz County needs a lot more money just to maintain that
Santa Cruz County’s road network is in “fair” condition, according to its public works department. However, there is a large funding gap between the current budget for paving and what is needed to simply maintain conditions as the county braces for another tight budget in the upcoming fiscal year.
Posted inLatest News
City to reopen eastbound lane of Murray Street Bridge on Wednesday afternoon
The City of Santa Cruz is scheduled to reopen the Murray Street Bridge’s eastbound lane on Wednesday afternoon. It will restore traffic for vehicles and bicycles from the Seabright neighborhood toward 7th Avenue and two-way access for pedestrians.