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Morning Lookout: PVUSD board eyes more layoffs; Capitola license plate data mistake; Lookout List spotlights restaurants Santa Cruz County news and opinion headlines from Lookout for the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Find all of Lookout's Tuesday headlines in one place, with news stories from Hillary Ojeda, Tania Ortiz, Cecilia Schutz, Ashley Palma-Jimenez and more, with Community Voices opinion from a former Housing Matters employee on the nonprofit's move to end day services for unhoused residents.

Bob Dylan tribute show at Kuumbwa Jazz to raise funds for Housing Matters  Housing Matters will be the beneficiary of a Nov. 21 tribute to Bob Dylan at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center to help raise money for the Santa Cruz nonprofit's shelters and other programs. 

Housing Matters will be the beneficiary of a Nov. 21 tribute to Bob Dylan at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center to help raise money for the Santa Cruz nonprofit's shelters and other programs.

Watsonville food pantry offers veterans food and connections to resources The Watsonville Veterans Memorial Building hosts a special food pantry every Tuesday to connect veterans who are unhoused or struggling with groceries and essential resources.

The Watsonville Veterans Memorial Building hosts a special food pantry every Tuesday to connect veterans who are unhoused or struggling with groceries and essential resources.

Pajaro Valley Unified school board to discuss plan to cut more than 160 positions at Wednesday meeting The Pajaro Valley Unified School District board will discuss a proposal Wednesday to eliminate more than 160 positions — including counselors, teachers, mental health clinicians and special education…

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District board will discuss a proposal Wednesday to eliminate more than 160 positions — including counselors, teachers, mental health clinicians and special education staff — in an effort to address a $15.3 million budget shortfall.

Capitola police chief says immigration officials’ access to its license plate reader database was a mistake Federal and out-of-state law enforcement agencies accessed databases with information collected by Capitola’s automated license plate readers on behalf of immigration officials between 2024 and early this year. Capitola’s police chief says it was a mistake.

Federal and out-of-state law enforcement agencies accessed databases with information collected by Capitola’s automated license plate readers on behalf of immigration officials between 2024 and early this year. Capitola’s police chief says it was a mistake.

Why are Housing Matters’ vital day services for unhoused people being closed? Housing Matters — Santa Cruz County’s largest homelessness nonprofit — plans to shut down its Coral Street day services, including public showers, bathrooms and a mailroom that served more than 1,700…

OPINION: Housing Matters — Santa Cruz County’s largest homelessness nonprofit — plans in March to shut down its Coral Street day services, including public showers, bathrooms and a mailroom. The closure comes with no clear transition plan, writes Marsa Greenspan, a former Housing Matters employee.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office investigating second wave of burglaries in Aptos area The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office is investigating a second wave of auto and residential burglaries in the Aptos and Day Valley areas. 

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office is investigating a second wave of auto and residential burglaries in the Aptos and Day Valley areas.

Investigators suspect foul play in disappearance of woman last seen at Rio Del Mar beach The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is still searching Danielle Staley, 35, who they say was last seen late Thursday night at Rio Del Mar State Beach and may have been a victim of foul play. 

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is still searching Danielle Staley, 35, who they say was last seen late Thursday night at Rio Del Mar State Beach and may have been a victim of foul play.

In the Public Interest: After narrow approval of Santa Cruz’s Measure C, Keeley sets sights on addressing concerns of the 46% who voted against it A weekly look at what's happening around Santa Cruz County politics & policy from Lookout.

A weekly look at what's happening around Santa Cruz County politics & policy from Lookout.

Fresh-baked dreams: Avery Ruzicka to open Manresa Bread and bistro in former Izakaya West End Manresa Bread is expanding its Santa Cruz footprint with a new flagship bakery on the Westside, just blocks from co-founder Avery Ruzicka’s home. The 4,000-square-foot space will feature on-site…

Both businesses are in the early stages of permitting, but without any significant remodels planned, Ruzicka hopes to open the bakery and the restaurant in spring 2026. Manresa Bread will open first, ideally around Feb. 14, she said, and the bistro a few weeks later.

Event Calendar Browse Lookout's Santa Cruz County public event calendar. This is your place to go for things to do in Santa Cruz County. Find all the concerts, plays, live music, pub crawls, family events, poetry…

New week, new plans? Check out BOLO, Lookout's free, searchable events calendar – your place to go for things to do all over Santa Cruz County.

Morning Lookout: Watsonville wants voice in battery storage regulations; Keeley on Measure C success; Manresa Bread's Westside expansion Santa Cruz County news and opinion headlines from Lookout for the morning of Monday, Nov. 10.

Monday morning's Lookout headlines include stories from Tania Ortiz, Hillary Ojeda, Lily Belli, Wallace Baine and more.

His students suddenly started getting A’s. Did a Google AI tool go too far? Some teachers say that artificial intelligence tools, particularly Google Lens, have made it impossible to enforce academic integrity in the classroom — with potentially harmful long-term effects on students’ learning.

Some teachers say that artificial intelligence tools, particularly Google Lens, have made it impossible to enforce academic integrity in the classroom — with potentially harmful long-term effects on students’ learning.

Santa Cruz’s John Malkin explores the spiritual underpinnings of punk rock in new book ‘Punk Spirit!’ Santa Cruz journalist, filmmaker and musician John Malkin brings together two unlikely subjects, punk rock and spirituality, in his new oral history, "Punk Spirit!" The book explores the many…

Santa Cruz journalist, filmmaker and musician John Malkin brings together two unlikely subjects, punk rock and spirituality, in his new oral history, "Punk Spirit!" The book explores the many religious/spiritual traditions that punk musicians have embraced.

Fresh-baked dreams: Avery Ruzicka to open Manresa Bread and bistro in former Izakaya West End Manresa Bread is expanding its Santa Cruz footprint with a new flagship bakery on the Westside, just blocks from co-founder Avery Ruzicka’s home.

Manresa Bread is expanding its Santa Cruz footprint with a new flagship bakery on the Westside, just blocks from co-founder Avery Ruzicka’s home.

Watsonville City Council wants more say in county’s battery storage ordinance As Santa Cruz County officials work on battery storage facility regulations, members of the Watsonville City Council say they want their concerns to be heard.

As Santa Cruz County officials work on battery storage facility regulations, members of the Watsonville City Council say they want their concerns to be heard.

Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley on Measure C’s long road to success and next steps Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley celebrated the narrow passage of Measure C, the city’s Workforce Housing Affordability Act, which will generate about $4.5 million annually through new property and real…

Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley celebrated the narrow passage of Measure C, the city’s Workforce Housing Affordability Act, which will generate about $4.5 million annually through new property and real estate transfer taxes to fund affordable housing and homelessness initiatives.

UCSC astronomy Ph.D. survived war and helped build Kosovo’s first observatory. Now she’s bringing the cosmos to Bay Area classrooms. After surviving the Kosovo War and witnessing her first solar eclipse as a child, UC Santa Cruz astronomy Ph.D. student Pranvera Hyseni turned a moment of wonder into a lifelong mission to bring…

After surviving the Kosovo War and witnessing her first solar eclipse as a child, UC Santa Cruz astronomy Ph.D. student Pranvera Hyseni turned a moment of wonder into a lifelong mission to bring astronomy education to her homeland.

Santa Cruz’s John Malkin explores the spiritual underpinnings of punk rock in new book ‘Punk Spirit!’ Santa Cruz journalist, filmmaker and musician John Malkin brings together two unlikely subjects, punk rock and spirituality, in his new oral history, "Punk Spirit!" The book explores the many…

Santa Cruz journalist, filmmaker and musician John Malkin brings together two unlikely subjects, punk rock and spirituality, in his new oral history, "Punk Spirit!" The book explores the many religious/spiritual traditions that punk musicians have embraced.

Community Bridges offers a lifeline, but workers are not being treated fairly or with dignity Community Bridges, Santa Cruz County’s largest nonprofit, doesn’t value or treat its front-line workers with dignity, write Community Bridges employees Lidia Montesino and Mercy Gonzales. The company…

OPINION: Community Bridges, Santa Cruz County’s largest nonprofit, doesn’t value or treat its front-line workers with dignity, write Community Bridges employees Lidia Montesino and Mercy Gonzales. A nonprofit built on equity shouldn’t mirror the inequities it claims to fight, they say.

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Changing tides in Santa Cruz water management seek to support fish populations in the San Lorenzo Salmon and trout populations in Santa Cruz’s watersheds, such as the San Lorenzo River, have taken a hit in recent decades. Now, officials at the city's water department hope that retooling water…

To leave more water for fish without compromising water for people, the Santa Cruz Water Department's new management plan also allows the city to share more water and store it in aquifers and wells, which was previously not allowed under the city’s water rights.

Making a splash: Cabrillo’s ‘Metamorphoses’ flows with theatrical magic The Cabrillo College Theatre Arts Department’s production of “Metamorphoses” is a stunning fusion of myth, movement and water — a sensory feast that transforms the Black Box Theater into a pool of…

The Cabrillo Theatre Arts Department's production of Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses” runs through next weekend – check out a review from Jana Marcus.

Watsonville City Council moves to scrap project labor agreement, despite pushback from trades council The Watsonville City Council voted Wednesday to scrap its project labor agreement, which sets standards for wages, benefits and working hours on city projects. Following the vote, city staff and the…

ICYMI: The Watsonville City Council voted Wednesday to scrap its project labor agreement, which sets standards for wages, benefits and working hours on city projects. Following the vote, city staff and the local trades council will go back to the drawing board to create a new set of rules.

Peggy Townsend’s new mystery novel finds drama and intrigue in the world of science Longtime Santa Cruz journalist-turned-novelist Peggy Townsend's new book is inspired by the unsung work and deep devotion of scientists. She'll discuss "The Botanist’s Assistant" on Nov. 18 at…

Good mysteries, Townsend said, have to be carefully reverse-engineered. “You start with a big outline, and you put in the clues and red herrings. I love the process. It’s really creative, and the journalist part of me insists that I do the research that would make it plausible.”

Cabrillo College governing board soliciting nominations for vacant seat after Manuel Bersamin’s sudden death After Cabrillo College Trustee Manuel Bersamin died suddenly on Oct. 26, the college announced Tuesday it is searching for candidates to fill his seat.

After Cabrillo College Trustee Manuel Bersamin died suddenly on Oct. 26, the college is searching for candidates to fill his seat. Bersamin, a former Watsonville mayor and longtime advocate for first-generation college students, was trustee for Area V, which includes the city of Watsonville.

Contribute to letters to the editor Lookout believes in journalism that is a dialogue, a link to democracy. That’s why we want to hear from you. Your perspectives will make us, our reporting and our community better. Today, we publish…

Make your voice heard on issues facing Santa Cruz County – send Lookout a letter to the editor.

Santa Cruz County, other agencies approve $1 million in donations to Second Harvest Food Bank The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency over food insecurity Tuesday and approved a $500,000 donation to Second Harvest Food Bank, as federal food aid delays from the…

FROM TUESDAY: The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency over food insecurity and approved a $500,000 donation to Second Harvest Food Bank, as federal food aid delays from the ongoing government shutdown leave thousands without assistance.

Too cute for comfort? Santa Cruz’s sea otters might have a publicity problem As surfer-otter run-ins continue, researchers say people, not otters, are responsible. Human development has left Santa Cruz’s sea otters with nowhere to go, forcing them to get comfortable with…

As surfer-otter run-ins continue, researchers say people, not otters, are responsible. Human development has left Santa Cruz’s sea otters with nowhere to go, forcing them to get comfortable with people.