A long decline in the number of people managing wildlife refuges in California accelerated after the Trump administration’s DOGE staffing cuts.
The Trump presidency and Santa Cruz County
News and opinion coverage of reaction in Santa Cruz County to the election of Donald Trump to a second term as president, plus news from around California via Lookout’s content partners.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Panetta, local officials and nonprofit leaders vow to support immigrants as deportation fears persist
Local government and nonprofit leaders joined Rep. Jimmy Panetta Tuesday afternoon to reassure Santa Cruz County’s immigrant community that they are committed to supporting them as deportation fears continue.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Panetta, funcionarios locales y líderes de organizaciones sin fines de lucro se comprometen a apoyar a los inmigrantes mientras persisten los temores a la deportación
Funcionarios del gobierno local y líderes de organizaciones sin fines de lucro se unieron el martes por la tarde al representante Jimmy Panetta para tranquilizar a la comunidad inmigrante del condado de Santa Cruz y asegurarle que están comprometidos a apoyarla mientras continúan los temores a la deportación.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
From Texas censorship to UCSC: Silenced anti-ICE art exhibition celebrating dual identity finds a home in Santa Cruz
Earlier this year, Mexican-born, Texas-raised visual artist Victor Quiñonez had his new exhibition, which speaks to being an immigrant in America and to the harm U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has caused, pulled from two different galleries in Texas. It is now set to come in September to UC Santa Cruz, where Quiñonez hopes his art can continue to make an impact in a state and gallery that is more understanding of its impactful message.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Trump administration threatens to gut Head Start rules, affecting 70,000 kids in California
Head Start is a federal childcare program that serves the country’s lowest-income families — those earning less than $33,000 a year for a family of four. A move by the Trump administration would effectively strip the program of the unique features that have defined it since its creation in the mid-1960s.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
California nearly achieved universal healthcare. Now, millions are losing coverage
California’s uninsured rate could nearly double by 2030, with the sharpest losses hitting Black, Asian, and Latino residents in Southern California. A new documentary reveals the human toll behind the numbers, including families navigating Medi-Cal amid immigration raids and looming benefit cuts.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County to put half-cent sales tax increase on November ballot, declares state of fiscal distress as federal cuts mount
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to put a half-cent sales tax increase on the November ballot and declared a state of financial distress amid ongoing challenges.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Medi-Cal is changing. Here’s what to do if you’re worried about coverage
Most people with Medi-Cal won’t be affected, but it might be confusing to figure out whether your benefits will change. The two most important things to do: Update your contact information with your county benefits office, and keep an eye out for any letters mailed from the county or state.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Michigan reports first two U.S. deaths related to a diarrhea-causing parasite
Two people have died in the cyclospora outbreak in Michigan, state health officials announced Monday, the first deaths confirmed in the U.S. related to the microscopic parasite.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Defensores de los derechos de los inmigrantes explican el impacto del fallo de EE. UU. sobre el TPS
A finales de junio, la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos dictaminó que el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) tiene mayor autoridad para poner fin al Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS) para ciertos países sin la intervención de tribunales federales inferiores. Defensores locales de los derechos de los inmigrantes afirman que el fallo ha generado más temor entre las personas beneficiarias del TPS.
