Santa Cruz County Local News

Residents in the local wildland urban interface can register through April 30 to participate in the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County Spring 2025 No-Cost Community Chipping Program to help dispose of yard waste or cut brush and trees ahead of the upcoming fire season.

A report with photos of the Hands Off protests held in Santa Cruz and Watsonville on April 5.

Work will soon begin on a 32-bed transitional homeless center on Soquel Avenue in Santa Cruz.

It’s hard to find the disciplinary history of for-profit colleges regulated by California. CalMatters is making it easier.

A report on the demonstration by dozens of Live Oak Elementary teachers, parents and students on April 2 advocating for urgently needed reforms to state education funding.

Nearly 60% of third graders aren’t reading at grade level. A new bill would require schools to use a phonics-based approach to teach students

Applications are open to residents 24 years old or younger to serve the new City of Santa Cruz Sustainability and Resiliency Committee and advise the city on climate, sustainability and resilience issues.

Rural counties are some of the most reliant on federal funding and federal workers. But some still welcome Trump’s upcoming cuts to forestry and other departments

A report on an April 1 online forum in which the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission presented details about passenger rail service to connect Watsonville and Santa Cruz and to regional and state rail routes.

The recent anchovy die-off has perplexed many in the Santa Cruz harbor community, as they usually occur during the summer.

A report on a town hall meeting held on April 2 and hosted by the City of Capitola and the Regional Transportation Commission to discuss the city's approach to the Coastal Rail Trail.

At a time when the political climate calls for strong and steady leadership, many Black Californians are losing faith in the lawmakers they sent to Sacramento to deliver on a justice agenda anchored by reparations.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has regularly worked side jobs at Bay Area nonprofits to earn extra income because he says the state pay is insufficient.

Infrastructure issues at California’s public universities are hindering students and faculty’s ability to learn and work on campus. Lawmakers and system leaders are hoping more state support can help them bring down the $17 billion price tag to fix their academic buildings.

Facing budget shortfalls, layoff notices to dozens of teachers have been going out over the last two weeks.

Californians accused of crimes have the right to an appointed defense attorney if they can’t afford to hire their own. In that way they are just like criminal defendants in every other state — protected, at least in theory, by the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel.

In their meeting on March 28, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees heard from students and community members who spoke out in favor of continuing with the ethnic studies program.

A handful of legislators rallied near the state Capitol Thursday to promote what they’re calling an “extremely unsexy,” but important, bipartisan bill package intended to put California’s housing development into overdrive.

At 90% of the state historical average, the Sierra Nevada snowpack is far better than last year. But it’s nothing like the record-smashing 2023.

The City of Santa Cruz has announced that Economic Development Director Bonnie Lipscomb will be moving to a new job as Assistant City Manager.