The story after
the first report.
Police logs show that something was recorded. Local reporting adds people, outcomes and context.
Headlines refreshed daily · Aug 26, 8:54 AMFederal wildfire crews are stretched thin. California is stepping in to help
As fire season takes hold, California is managing fuels and fire on federal lands. Can the Golden State keep it up?
Tuesday morning traffic: Highway 9 lane closures, minor crash at Hilltop & Jensen
Tuesday traffic trouble spots in and around Santa Cruz County.
Timber fire in Big Sur eclipses 6,000 acres; containment up to 29%
Crews are making progress on the Timber fire, which continues to burn in Big Sur in Monterey County. It had scorched more than 6,000 acres as of Thursday night, but containment was 29%. Several state parks remain closed as firefighting effo
On Coral Street, police sweeps don’t solve homelessness; they make it invisible
On Coral Street in Santa Cruz, the tents are disappearing — but the people who lived in them have not. As Housing Matters prepares to open 120 units of supportive housing, weekly street sweeps are escalating into daily displacement, writes
Tuesday morning traffic: Highway 9 lane closures; 2-car crash at Elkhorn Rd
Tuesday traffic trouble spots in and around Santa Cruz County.
UC Santa Cruz student who died in West Cliff Drive crash identified as 19-year-old Alli Singh
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office says UC Santa Cruz student Alli Singh, 19, was killed last Thursday after the car she was in drove off West Cliff Drive and into the bay at Steamer Lane.
UC Santa Cruz student died in Thursday crash off West Cliff Drive
A UC Santa Cruz student has been identified as the victim killed Thursday when a vehicle carrying two people crashed into the ocean off of West Cliff Drive at Steamer Lane.
With new funds, Felton Fire looks to hire
Citizen oversight, budget to be discussed next month
Timber fire update: Big Sur blaze grows to 4,445 acres; now 7% contained
The Timber fire in Monterey County continues to spread through Big Sur, having scorched more than 4,000 acres as of Thursday night. The fire has prompted the closures of state parks and nearby facilities, and has forced more than 500 people
Thursday morning traffic: Three-car crash with minor injuries delays Hwy 1 traffic
Thursday traffic trouble spots in and around Santa Cruz County.
California is making progress on fire prevention. Federal retreat, shaky funding put it at risk
California set an ambitious target to reduce wildfire hazards each year and is making real progress, write Bradley Franklin and Kyle Greenspan of the PPIC Water Policy Center. Preserving that momentum as federal partnerships fade and state
Timber fire eclipses 4,000 acres in Big Sur; containment up to 7%
Containment improved to 7% on the Timber fire in Big Sur on Wednesday night, with Cal Fire reporting that the blaze had consumed more than 4,000 acres.
Newsom makes last-minute push to help California utilities facing wildfire bills
One of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s final political fights in California is a revival of an old one. As wildfire costs threaten utilities’ financial models, the governor wants to help them pay less for fires.
Friday evening traffic: Crash into house on Portola Dr; 4-wheeler hits pole
Friday traffic trouble spots in and around Santa Cruz County.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk evacuated following reports of gunfire; no injuries reported, police say
Around 9 p.m. on Monday, police responded to reports of shots fired in the parking lot near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. No one was struck by gunfire, a police spokesperson said.
‘Don’t Flock me’: California, U.S. lawmakers debate license plate reader technology
They’re all over our roads and really good at helping police solve crimes, but do California’s automated license plate readers need limits?
Woman returns home after years of displacement by CZU Lightning Complex Fire
Santa Cruz nonprofit completes first ground-up housing rebuild
16-year-old rookie lifeguard describes moment he ran into rough surf to save drowning boy at Seabright
When a 10-year-old boy was swept off his feet by heavy crashing waves at Seabright State Beach, 16-year-old rookie lifeguard Ryder Williams sprinted into the water and held onto him until help arrived. Though a viral video of the rescue dre
Arraignment for murder suspect in Capitola Mall stabbing delayed again
The arraignment for Tyler Leibelt, the 19-year-old accused of stabbing and murdering Rachell Summers, 73, of Capitola, was delayed again on Wednesday. He is due back in court August 19.
Viral Seabright beach rescue: Trump invites 16-year-old Santa Cruz lifeguard to White House
A Santa Cruz teen lifeguard saved a 10-year-old boy from rough waters this past weekend at Seabright State Beach, and a video of the rescue went viral. President Donald Trump has since invited the teen and his family to the White House to r
Matt Horn, Tyler Florence headline new barbecue festival in Moss Landing
The inaugural Black Smoke Invitational will bring celebrity chefs, pitmasters and live-fire cooking to Moss Landing on Sunday, pairing a barbecue competition with cooking demonstrations, unlimited tastings and live music. Organized by House
Suspect in Capitola Mall stabbing to be arraigned on Wednesday; court documents lay out alleged sequence of events
Tyler Leibelt, the 19-year-old suspect in the Monday stabbing that killed 73-year-old Rachell Summers outside the Capitola Mall, will return to court on Wednesday for his arraignment, continued from this week. Court documents filed by the d
Police identify victim, suspect in fatal Capitola Mall stabbing
Capitola police and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim in Monday’s fatal stabbing outside the Capitola Mall as Rachell Summers, 73, of Capitola. On Tuesday, the law enforcement agencies also identified the suspect
AI data centers might just save rooftop solar — and your electric bill
Artificial intelligence data centers are poised to transform California’s electric grid — but they might also rescue rooftop solar from years of political backlash, say clean-energy advocates Angela Lipanovich, an attorney, and Jenny Folkes
After scathing state board report, $5,000 fine and probation, Cabrillo College clears most dental hygiene program violations
Cabrillo College has corrected seven of eight violations identified in a state investigation of its dental hygiene program, but it remains on three years of probation and must pay a $5,000 fine after investigators found issues including ina
Sheriff’s Office investigates death of 16-year-old Capitola boy found near wharf
The body of a 16-year-old boy from Capitola was pulled from the water near the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf on Monday morning. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, though no foul play is suspected at this time.
As Felton Fire faces mounting financial challenges, an assessment proposal divides residents
Ballots due July 24
Civic impact: our continued reporting on Flock Safety
How is your police department using Flock surveillance data?