Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County deputy district attorney Erin West is leading efforts to disrupt the organised networks behind online fraud and crypto scams. Rather than chasing individual scammers, her approach targets the wider supply chain of the fraud economy — the money launderers, facilitators and infrastructure that enable industrial-scale scams. The story highlights how law enforcement is shifting focus from lone perpetrators to the system that sustains cybercrime profits.

Lookout Santa Cruz has published a roundup of the best entertainment, arts and food events taking place across Santa Cruz County from October 1 to 4. The guide highlights local performances, exhibitions and dining happenings for residents and visitors planning the weekend.

UC Berkeley researchers have created a digital twin of Pajaro Valley, the farming region along the Lower Pajaro River that divides Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, to simulate future flood risks. The communities there have suffered repeated multi-million dollar floods, and the model is intended to help test how different scenarios could affect the area.

Two adults were swept off rocks at Panther Beach in Santa Cruz County, California, according to local news reports. Authorities say their condition is unknown as responders work at the scene. The incident comes amid warnings about powerful surf along the coast, and details about rescue efforts or injuries have not yet been released.

Authorities are searching for an at-risk man who was last seen walking towards the ocean in Santa Cruz County, California. Local station KSBW reported the incident, and officials are urging anyone with information to come forward as concerns grow for his safety near the water.

Two people were hospitalized following an ocean rescue in Santa Cruz County, California, according to KRON4. Details about the victims' conditions and the circumstances that led to the rescue have not been released. The incident has drawn local attention as coastal water rescues continue to raise safety concerns in the area.

Applications for the 2027 Campus Elections are now open, according to an announcement from UC Santa Cruz. The call invites members of the campus community to put their names forward for elected student and campus representative positions. Details on eligibility, available roles and filing deadlines are being shared through the university's official news channels as the election cycle begins.

Two people were rescued after being swept into the ocean at Panther Beach in Santa Cruz County, California, according to NBC Bay Area. Reports of the rescue are circulating locally, with details about the pair's condition and the circumstances of the incident not yet available. The story is drawing attention among residents along the Northern California coast.

Gardening columnist Tom Karwin writes in the Santa Cruz Sentinel that planting time has arrived, marking the start of the season for getting plants into the ground. The piece offers guidance for gardeners preparing their beds as conditions become favorable for new plantings.

Santa Cruz County officials are grappling with a $30 million budget shortfall even as they highlight progress on mental health services and homelessness programs. The gap raises questions about whether recent gains in those priority areas can be sustained, and residents are watching closely to see which services may face cuts as leaders work to balance the county budget.

UC Santa Cruz researchers and commentators argue that conventional approaches are failing to resolve the Monterey Bay area's severe housing shortage, which has driven up costs across Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. The piece outlines several ambitious alternative proposals aimed at expanding affordable housing supply and reshaping local policy. Local residents and policymakers are weighing whether such large-scale ideas can gain traction in a region long resistant to major development.

Lookout Santa Cruz's evening briefing covers key takeaways from the state of Santa Cruz County, highlights a newly published book on the history of the University of California system, and offers a roundup of local business news. The edition bundles the day's most relevant local developments for Santa Cruz-area readers in one digest.

A weekly roundup of new business filings in Santa Cruz County, California has been published for the week of September 29. The list details recent business registrations and license activity in the county, giving residents and local entrepreneurs a snapshot of new commercial ventures entering the market.

Two people have been recovered from the ocean off Panther Beach in Santa Cruz County, California. Local outlet KSBW reported the incident, saying the conditions of the two individuals are not yet known. Authorities have not released further details on how the pair ended up in the water or their current status.