Santa Cruz County, CA

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — A Santa Cruz County realtor was arraigned Monday on rape charges. Frank Debernardo, 46, is accused of raping a guest at his home in Aptos last November and then intimidating the woman to keep quiet about it. Court documents are calling the woman Jane Doe.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif (KION-TV) - Teachers and staffing shortages are still a problem nationwide, even after two years since the pandemic began. The Santa Cruz County Office of Education says that some of its school districts still see shortages on their campuses. But they are in a better position this year than the previous years.   The post Santa Cruz County schools dealing with staffing shortages appeared first on KION546.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — PG&E is strengthening its power system in Santa Cruz County. Swanton Road, along the north coast of Santa Cruz County, has already benefitted from undergrounding powerlines. In all, there are about two miles of undergrounding planned for this fall, but the county wonders if it's strategically sound.

Teachers bargained and parents complained. After months of negotiation, the district and teachers within the Soquel Union Elementary School District have agreed to a new contract thanks to a boost from the state budget. Midcareer teachers should see a jump in pay to about $73,000 a year from $64,000, somewhat easing affordability pressures.

I hope everyone enjoyed this beautiful Santa Cruz day. I’m certainly excited to take an evening walk along West Cliff in a few hours. Without further ado, let’s jump right into it... First taste of fall’s bounty, in search of BLT greatness and the staying power of ‘The...

Heads up, foodies: I’m now sending alerts every time I publish a story. Sign up for texts from me here. Thanks to those of you who’ve already subscribed and offered your thoughts! And catch up on my recent work here. … As the temperatures this week will emphasize,...

Local and state data on COVID-19

Gary, 63, said he would go to a shelter if it accepted his belongings. He camped near the post office in downtown Santa Cruz in 2020. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file) SANTA CRUZ >> Midway through Santa Cruz County’s three-year plan to reduce homelessness, county leaders on...

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Central Coast school administrators have been working to improve school safety as students return to school. Now, one district can lock down a single classroom or an entire school remotely. "It's just a simple tap and then it opens and then it locks automatically" said,...

Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here. The same wastewater surveillance techniques that have emerged as a crucial tool in early detection of COVID-19 outbreaks are being adapted for use in monitoring the startling spread of monkeypox across the San Francisco Bay Area and some other U.S. communities.

Spike Wong's latest play, "White Sky, Falling Dragon," is just weeks away from its COVID-delayed premiere Aug. 26. Very possibly his most personal work thus far, the production is the culmination of a long quest to further ground himself in his identity — and regain what he and his family lost by living and growing up Asian in America.

Good morning, friends! It is Monday, Aug. 8, and it looks to be a mostly sunny day ahead around Santa Cruz County, with temps in the 70s and 80s — a solid forecast for all of you trying to soak up the last few days before school ramps back up.

(BCN) — The number of homeless veterans in Santa Cruz County has more than doubled since 2019, according to new data from the county. The county announced its biennial Point-in-Time Count of the number of people experiencing homelessness in the county. The 2022 Point-In-Time Count revealed there were at least 2,299 people who experienced homelessness […]

Santa Cruz County Public Health is hosting this town hall to encourage open discussion and share information about monkeypox (MPX). The event is Thursday, August 11 from 6 - 7 p.m.. Topics of Discussion:. Overview and Status Update Prevention. Vaccine Eligibility. Treatment. Questions & Answers and Open Discussion. Panelists. Dr....