News Stories

• 

Draft Santa Cruz city budget adds staff, foresees deficit

By Jesse Kathan|2025-05-23T18:41:48-07:00May 24, 2025|Tags: budget, City of Santa Cruz, Featured, Fred Keeley, Jesse Kathan, Santa Cruz City Council|

Budget meetings May 26 and 27

• 

Unhealthy tap water at farmworker housing prompts fixes

By Nik Altenberg|2026-05-11T12:03:08-07:00May 23, 2025|Tags: County of Santa Cruz, drinking water, environment, Featured, health, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz, Nathan Salazar, Nik Altenberg, Pajaro Valley, PFAS, South County, water|

Installed filter system lacks county permits to operate

• 

Input wanted on future of Capitola Wharf

By Tyler Maldonado|2025-05-22T16:08:30-07:00May 22, 2025|Tags: Capitola wharf, City of Capitola, coastal, Featured, fishing, surveys|

Survey closes May 31

• 

Missing FEMA money strains Scotts Valley city budget

By Jesse Kathan|2025-05-19T16:28:44-07:00May 19, 2025|Tags: budgets, City of Scotts Valley, Featured, FEMA, Government, Jesse Kathan, Scotts Valley City Council|

Reserves may drop by $5 million

• 

Pajaro Valley school district grapples with shrinking budget

By Jesse Greenspan|2025-05-20T12:16:53-07:00May 19, 2025|Tags: Aptos High School, budgets, City of Watsonville, education, Featured, Government, Heather Contreras, Jesse Greenspan, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, South County|

Fewer dollars for salaries, more money for facilities with bond money

• 

New wildfire hazard maps, rules for Santa Cruz County residents

By Jesse Kathan|2025-05-16T15:43:38-07:00May 16, 2025|Tags: Cal Fire, County of Santa Cruz, Featured, Jesse Kathan, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, wildfire, wildfire hazard maps|

Defensible safe, building standards could change

• 

Santa Cruz passenger rail options outlined

By Tyler Maldonado|2025-05-16T14:47:48-07:00May 16, 2025|Tags: City of Santa Cruz, Coastal Rail Trail, Featured, passenger rail, rail trail, Riley Gerbrandt, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission, Tyler Maldonado|

Potential stations described near Depot Park, Natural Bridges Drive

• 

New soil tests start after Moss Landing battery fire

By Jesse Kathan|2025-05-20T10:54:09-07:00May 15, 2025|Tags: Agriculture, battery fire, environment, Featured, health, Jesse Kathan, John Laird, Monterey County, Moss Landing, Moss Landing fire, Santa Cruz County, Vistra Corp.|

UCSC scientist urges health monitoring

• 

Felton Fire loses chief, service contract with Ben Lomond

By Jesse Kathan|2025-05-15T17:15:52-07:00May 14, 2025|Tags: Ben Lomond, Ben Lomond Fire, Dan Arndt, Dan Walters, Don Jarvis, Featured, Felton, Felton Fire, fire, Isaac Blum, Jeff Maxwell, Jesse Kathan, Norm Crandell, San Lorenzo Valley, Stacie Brownlee, wildfire, Zayante, Zayante Fire|

Staff, money problems mount

• 

Watsonville rail trail, train depot options presented

By Tyler Maldonado|2025-05-13T17:32:38-07:00May 13, 2025|Tags: City of Watsonville, Coastal Rail Trail, Featured, passenger rail, rail trail, Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, Tyler Maldonado|

Maps show potential routes on Walker, Beach streets

• 

Santa Cruz affordable housing measure expected on Nov. 4 ballot

By Jesse Kathan|2025-05-12T18:14:45-07:00May 12, 2025|Tags: affordable housing, City of Santa Cruz, Elaine Johnson, Featured, Fred Keeley, housing, Jesse Kathan, Nov 4 2025 ballot, Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors, Santa Cruz Workforce Housing and Climate Protection Act, Workforce Housing Affordability Act|

Separate measure from realtors in the works

• 

Santa Cruz council to consider taller buildings, new Warriors arena downtown

By Nik Altenberg and Jesse Kathan|2025-05-12T16:33:36-07:00May 12, 2025|Tags: downtown expansion, downtown Santa Cruz, Featured, housing, Santa Cruz City Council, Santa Cruz Warriors|

May 13 vote on downtown expansion plan