State of (Chocolate) Nirvana

A suite of five bills introduced this weeks seeks to protect election integrity from bad actors using AI, especially on social media.

In Lookout’s last candidate forum before the March 5 primary election, Santa Cruz City Council candidates for Districts 1, 2, 3 and 5 discussed the city’s major issues including homelessness, the fate of West Cliff Drive and Measure M.

There’s a new face and ethos driving the wine program at Mentone these days. Wine director Emma Bavera has been here only a few months, but she’s already bringing many welcome additions to the wine experience.

The latest round of federal homelessness response grant funds—at more than $6 million—is set to be distributed across Santa Cruz County to a handful of service providers this year.

History has a way of repeating itself. Not this time around. On the docks of Moss Landing, history has a real chance of reinventing itself.

"Art and Life: The Story of Jim Phillips," directed by John Edward Makens, tells the story of Jim Phillips, a graphic artist who has left his imprint throughout Santa Cruz and beyond.

The custom wood-fired oven will be blasting out pizzas with the char, bubbles and caramelization only 800 degrees can bring.  The Emiliomiti pasta extruder will be squeezing out strozzapreti, rigatoni and bucatini.

The state is to implement long-awaited new guidelines in 2025 despite some calls for a year’s delay.

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced consumer tools to help tenants and landlords understand how much rent can rise under a state law.

Here’s where they stand on the economy, crime and the border.

UC Merced will be highlighted on an Amazon Prime show that showcases universities around the world.

Journalism and democracy are undeniably intertwined. As the late media critic James Carey put it, “No journalism, no democracy; but, equally, no democracy, no journalism.”

If educator candidates are paid a living wage and receive plenty of support, they are more likely to remain in the profession.

There are different rules for the presidential contest and state races on the March 5 ballot. And each party has its own rules.

California’s utility regulators are exploring energy bill reforms that would structure charges based on household income. If done correctly, the change shift the cost for maintaining the grid to higher earners who can afford it.

California’s law that requires background checks when purchasing ammunition is back in place.

California State Parks has recommended $6.7 million for seven local nonmotorized trail projects in various cities, including Galt and Gilroy.

Sen. Mike McGuire of Healdsburg takes over as Democratic leader in the state Senate from Sen. Toni Atkins. He terms out in 2026, so has limited time to push his agenda.

States are plowing billions of dollars into a high-stakes health care experiment that’s exploding around the country: using scarce public health insurance money to provide housing for the poorest and sickest Americans.

The storm fed off of unusually warm waters as it grew. It also reached “bomb cyclone” status as it neared California.

Downtown Sacramento faces many challenges, but the growing number of small businesses, hotels, homes and other major developments signal its transformation, says the city’s mayor.

The Grateful Dead have broken the record for the most Top 40 albums to chart on the Billboard 200.

A handful of super powerful tropical storms in the last decade and the prospect of more to come has a couple of experts proposing a new category of whopper hurricanes: Category 6.