The Lighter Side of … California Local

Construction crews are set to begin work next week on a $7.7 million project to rebuild and reopen this seaside town’s wharf, which was wrecked in winter storms.

“We’re going to have another storm; we’re going to have another extreme weather event,” said Rep. Jimmy Panetta. “I’m obviously proud of what happened in regards to the response, but I also know it wasn’t perfect ... and that’s where we can get better.”

Planning commissioners unanimously approved city staff's recommendation for the council to adopt the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan.

Daniel Laggner, founder of Santa Cruz-based Wildstag Provisions, is on a mission to protect American wildlife by selling free range game meat.

This summer’s Michelin star recognition for Chez Noir in Carmel, granted within 10 months of its opening, might seem sudden. It’s not.

The city of Santa Cruz Economic Development Department is seeking proposals from vendors of all flavors, but preferably peppermint or pumpkin spice, to fill the parking lot in Midtown Santa Cruz from October to New Year’s Day.

Eight community colleges in California are testing out a new education model, one that defines success by the skills a student learns, not the time they spend in a classroom. But changing the traditional education system isn’t easy.

A bipartisan bill would create a state ombudsperson to intervene when public records requests are denied. But an advocacy group is concerned that it will encourage state agencies to go to court.

The Legislature is approving lots of significant bills in the final days of the session. But the final call is up to the governor, and he isn’t shy about using his veto pen.

Nearly a third of K-12 students statewide were chronically absent in 2020-21, more than three times the pre-pandemic rate. Some school officials fear that pattern is becoming the new normal.

California wildfires every year emit as much carbon as almost 2 million cars, posing a threat to efforts to battle climate change.