Santa Cruz County California Local Articles


Image caption: Scott Murrison inside a hoop house full of unused cannabis growing equipment in Hayfork on Feb. 7, 2023.
Emerald Triangle Cannabis Economy Pushed to the Brink

Cannabis has been king in this rural area of northern California. As prices plummet, communities and small businesses are hurting, Many blame Prop 64.

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California Local Member Newsletter for February 27, 2023

Weather anomalies caused by the climate crisis suck. Even if they involve sledding.

Image caption: Can YouTube be held liable for a deadly terrorist attack if its algorithm recommended ISIS videos?
SCOTUS Takes on Section 230, the Online Free Speech Law

The U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday heard arguments in a potential landmark case that could roll back Section 230, the 27-year-old law that protects free speech on social media and other online platforms. Which way were the justices leaning?

Image caption: Elon Musk seems to be working hard to perfect the Midas Touch of Shit.
California Local Member Newsletter for February 20, 2023

The Word of the Month perfectly summarizes the overall trend that sees so much of the online world mired in sewage. Plus: Impending tech crash? And: Should Google be broken up?

Image caption: Google is just one of dozens of tech companies announcing major layoffs in 2022 and 2023.
Silicon Valley Boom and Bust: Why California’s Tech Mecca Always Survives

Silicon Valley has been hit with repeated boom and bust cycles throughout its history, and layoffs are sweeping the tech industry in 2023. Here's why the Valley will survive the latest downturn, as it has all the others.

Image caption: Collage of images generated by DALL-E with the prompt “An ink drawing in the style of Ralph Steadman of a group of creatures with human bodies dressed in business attire but with lizard heads, outside Twitter corporate headquarters.”
Eschewing Enshittification

Ever wonder why things go wrong in our country and economy? We learned a new word from Cory Doctorow, and found a solution to this menace in the Fediverse.

Image caption: Dianne Feinstein began her career in government six years before current Gov. Gavin Newsom was born.
Dianne Feinstein ‘Charted Own Path’ in Legendary Career

Dianne Feinstein, California's longtime senior U.S. Senator, has announced she will end a legendary career in public life that began in 1961 and took off amidst the turbulent, violent era of San Francisco in the 1970s.

Image caption: Clockwise from upper right: Architect Paul R. Williams, Assemblyman Frederick Madison Roberts, abolitionist Mary Ellen Pleasant, and Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley (with President Gerald Ford).
California Pioneers

Black History Month provides an opportunity to remember the achievements of African Americans who fought for equality in the Golden State.

Image caption: London Nelson’s legacy persists more than 150 years after his passing.
California Local Member Newsletter for February 13, 2023

Thirty African Americans who made the world a better place.

Image caption: Supporters of the lowrider community attend a press conference at the state Capitol in support of legislation that would prevent local governments from imposing cruising bans on Feb. 6, 2023.
'What Matters'—Feb. 7, 2023

CalMatters presents a roundup of what you need to know today, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023

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California Local Member Newsletter for February 6, 2023

Start spreading the news...and stop supporting disinformation.

Image caption: Former U.S. Attorney General William Barr (right) and the man to whom he remains loyal.
Barr Attacks Media at News Publishers Conference

The title of CapCon 2023 was 'Rebuilding Trust in an Age of Disinformation.' Barr’s response to that prompt was unambiguous: You do not deserve to be trusted.

Image caption: Has Google established a monopoly over online advertising? The feds say yes.
DOJ Lawsuit Seeks To Force Google to Sell Ad Service

Google may be forced to sell off its $200 billion online advertising service if a new lawsuit by the federal Department of Justice claiming that Google acts as a monopoly succeeds.

Image caption: We can all make an impact in reducing our species’ carbon footprint.
California Local Member Newsletter for January 30, 2023

Though the climate crisis can seem overwhelming, there are steps individuals can take to make a difference.

Image caption: Ever little bit helps in the fight against climate change.
Small Steps in the Right Direction

Don’t just be a spectator in the fight against climate change. Here are some small steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint.

Image caption: Dairy products are California’s top agricultural commodity, but the industry is often criticized for its impact on the environment.
Sustainable Sustenance

California is a leading producer of agricultural crops. So it’s not surprising to find cutting-edge ideas taking root here.

Image caption: A view of the San Lorenzo River from the Soquel Avenue Bridge—which fared better in this storm than in 1982, when it collapsed.
Flowing Through History

During January’s destructive storms, environmental studies professor Dustin Mulvaney created a concise, riveting timeline of the San Lorenzo River.

Image caption: Memorial dedicated to the victims of the May 2022  mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Gun Violence is a Public Health Crisis

State and local officials are still asking law enforcement to prevent gun violence. Community leaders believe gun violence should be treated as a public health crisis, and incorporate prevention strategies that address the social factors in areas most at risk.

Image caption: Kevin McCarthy (CA-20) is the new House Speaker, but his constituents remain badly short of water.
CNN: Kevin McCarthy AWOL on Central Valley Water Crisis

Kevin McCarthy has reached the top position in the U.S. House, but has still fallen short in addressing the ongoing water crisis in his owndistrict, a new CNN.com report says.

Image caption: Before killing 10 people Saturday night, Huu Can Tran was disarmed at a nearby dance club, where he was carrying an illegal semi-automatic pistol.
After Monterey Park, More Gun Safety Talk

After the massacre late Saturday nigh that left 10 dead and 10 others hospitalized, on Sunday one politician after another expressed sorrow and offered condolences.

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