Santa Cruz County Local News

A push to bolster housing production in California's coastal communities in recent years has led to heated battles over potential state reforms. Below, a veteran elected official believes the debate has created a false choice between housing and protections. The opposing view: A former attorney for the Coastal Commission says the state Coastal Act has failed to deliver on what it envisioned.

Almost 400 suppliers, two-thirds in communities of color, don’t meet safety and reliability standards. Fixing them would cost billions.

Even when suicidal, California firefighters struggle to find medical help and navigate the workers’ comp morass to pay for it.

Gov. Newsom and legislative leaders announce an agreement to bridge the state budget deficit by dipping into reserves and reducing some spending. The deal also calls for a bill in August to set aside more money and a 2026 constitutional amendment to grow the state’s rainy day fund.

Before the first official day of summer, almost 90,000 acres have been burned in California wildfires.

A groundbreaking was held on June 20 at the site where the new 10,000 square foot Encompass Community Services mental health and substance abuse services facility is to be constructed in Watsonville.

The California Public Utilities Commission rejected the telecom’s bid to stop providing service in many parts of the state.

The groundbreaking for the north coast segment of the Santa Cruz Rail Trail was held a Wilder Ranch State Park on June 20.

The Felton Fire Protection District is considering future options, including working with CalFire or putting a tax measure on the November ballot.

On June 19, California YIMBY announced support for the California Forever project going to the Solano County ballot in November.

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted to award the county jail health services contract to a new provider, a move not related to the recent Civil Grand Jury report according to Sheriff Jim Hart.

In a June 18 meeting of the Santa Cruz City Council with planning commissioners attending, a draft plan was presented for the South of Laurel area (SoLa) project including a permanent Warriors arena and 1600 units of housing in towers up to 12 stories tall.

A new round of litigation began when environmental groups opposed to the Sites reservoir in Colusa County filed an appeal on a ruling which dismissed their suit seeking to halt the project from proceeding.

Santa Cruz County Health Department officials note a spike in local COVID cases.

Legal rights to use water — particularly those obtained prior to 1914 — lie at the heart of California’s perpetual wrangling over the allocation of increasingly limited water supplies.

With multiple fires already burning in the state, forecasters predict the coming fire season will be "very active."

A recent court ruling exempted five charter cities from a controversial housing law. That’s given anti-density advocates across California an idea.

On May 29, MidPen Housing celebrated the completion of the 57-unit affordable apartments on Capitola Road in Live Oak adjacent to the Santa Cruz Community Health and Dientes Community Dental Care clinics.

The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau announced the 2024 Farmer of the Year is Janet Webb, president of Big Creek Lumber.

Young Great White sharks are convening in the warm waters of Soquel Cove off Seacliff State Beach between Capitola and Rio Del Mar.