Santa Cruz County Health Articles

Before the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, roughly 18% of Santa Cruz County residents lacked health insurance. After it was signed into law, that number dropped to 6%.

Think back 25 years ago to 2000: the first camera phone debuted (the J-SH04, with a ferocious 0.1-megapixel resolution); the clothing brand Hollister was introduced; the fourth book in the “Harry Potter” series, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” …

Supporting our local economy by shopping at stores that carry locally produced goods is good for the community and the environment. And in the case of farmers markets, your health as well.

A grassroots movement of citizens concerned about the construction of a new battery storage facility in Watsonville held a public meeting on Monday evening to discuss the dangers of such a project and rally local residents by passing around petitions …

A recent report highlighted a need for improved conditions for people with mental health problems in Santa Cruz County lockups. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> Mental health care should improve at Santa Cruz County jails, …

Santa Cruz County supervisors in February. (Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo)

Over 30,000 under-resourced adults and children in Santa Cruz County rely on affordable dental care to live full, healthy, pain-free lives.

Proposed cuts by the Trump administration would be devastating for new mothers, children, immigrants, seniors and lower- and middle-class community members, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-19th District), who represents much of Santa Cruz County, told a packed town hall meeting Friday.

Dr. Carmin Powell talks about threats to health care at a March 28 town hall meeting at Cabrillo College. (Tyler Maldonado — Santa Cruz Local)
APTOS >> Federal lawmakers have proposed $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid over the next …

Proposed cuts by the Trump administration would be devastating for new mothers, children, immigrants, seniors and lower and middle class community members, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-19th District), who represents much of Santa Cruz County, told a packed town hall meeting …

Farmworkers handle tarps at a farm near Moss Landing in October 2024. (Nik Altenberg — Santa Cruz Local file)
WATSONVILLE >> After five years of activism from Pajaro Valley residents and others across the state, California residents can now get …

In response to growing concerns among families, health providers and educators about the rising fentanyl crisis, a collaborative effort is set to take place in Santa Cruz County.

Santa Cruz County Supervisors in February. (Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> Santa Cruz County Supervisors on Tuesday advanced rules to allow marijuana use in cannabis businesses outside the county’s four cities. The move would promote …

While cocktail bars are intended to be places where people go to play, the unfortunate reality is they can also be where predators come to prowl. But Santa Cruz is at the forefront of making bars safer by offering patrons …

The health departments of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties invite the public to participate in a community survey to gather information about potential health concerns related to the recent battery fires at the Vistra Moss Landing Energy Storage …

The Health Departments of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties, in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health, are conducting this community survey to learn more about the Energy Storage Facility Fire in Monterey County that started on …

Close to 100 people gathered Saturday in Moss Landing to voice their concern and demand better information about the fire that tore through a battery storage facility at the Moss Landing Power Plant on Jan. 16

Trust is not built on words alone—it is forged through action, teamwork, and empathy. This holds true in times of prosperity, but is even more critical during hardship and crisis. Few experiences unite people like the shared journey from loss …

On this episode of Talk of the Bay host PK Hattis is joined by nurses from Dominican Hospital who staged a picket last week in protest of chronic staffing shortages and a lack of investment from hospital ownership Dignity Health …

It was a sunny day without a cloud in the sky. Mountain bikers passed along a Glenwood Open Space Preserve trail above Scotts Valley High School to the sound of birds chirping.