Redwood Rx: State Parks offer prescription for wellness and education
On Monday morning, as I wound my way up Highway 9 from Santa Cruz to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Ralph Nader was discussing—on KSQD 90.7 FM’s airwaves—how the notorious drug Thalidomide has returned to the market in a new form. It’s now being...
High-stakes drama plays out at Superior Court during mock trial competition
Their client was found guilty of first-degree murder, but they did such a good job of putting up a defense that they’re now headed to state. Santa Cruz High School’s mock trial team hugged one another, after Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Syda...
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors adopts new AI policy
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors has unanimously adopted an adaptive Artificial Intelligence Appropriate Use policy, becoming among the first local governments in the United States to encourage the use of artificial intelligence among staff while creating a framework to address concerns related to...
Supervisors vote to establish Third-party Plan Check program in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors has voted to establish a Third-party Plan Check (TPC) program that will give permit seekers the option to get their plans reviewed primarily by a consultant they hire, rather than county staff.
The program, proposed by Supervisors Manu Koenig...
Water supply pipeline to be relocated under Graham Hill Road
Santa Cruz Water Department has announced that it will relocate 3.7 miles of the Newell Creek Pipeline out of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and under Graham Hill Road to ensure continued reliability of the critical water supply pipeline.
Construction will begin in spring 2025...
Scotts Valley makes progress on parks plan
Scotts Valley City Council held a special joint study session with the Parks and Recreation Commission on May 1 to envision the full scope of recreation options for the city.
Recreation Manager Allison Pfefferkorn noted that there hasn’t been a new Parks Master Plan since...
Felton observes Memorial Day with 34th annual celebration
The 34th annual Felton Remembers Parade and Covered Bridge Festival took place Saturday, beginning with a Memorial Day parade through town and ending in the Covered Bridge Park for a celebration that featured live music, food, art, games and local crafters. The May 25...
Sex abuse case against former SLVUSD admin paused
Just weeks before the civil child sex abuse trial was set to begin, it was canceled.
Ned Hearn, the former SLVUSD teacher and administrator who faces a lawsuit by a student swimmer he coached in the ’90s in Dixon, Calif.—who says they had a sexual...
News Briefs | Published Jan. 24, 2025
Village meeting planned for Ben Lomond this Saturday
The Ben Lomond Village Alliance (BLVA) is inviting residents to attend a “Let’s Revitalize Ben Lomond Village” meeting on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 10-11:30am at Park Hall Community Center, 9400 Mill St., in Ben Lomond.
This informational event...
Author hails history, feminism with upcoming book launch of ‘Strait Lace’
Author Rosemary Hayward has a thing for history. As she prepares to launch her sophomore effort, “Strait Lace,” Hayward is reveling in the joy of pursuing her passion.
Her first novel, “Margaret Leaving,” a historical mystery set in the 1970s, was published in 2017 and...
News Briefs | Published July 11, 2025
‘Veterans’ Voices with VTC’ debuts on Santa Cruz Voice
The Veterans Transition Center (VTC) and Santa Cruz Voice have partnered to launch “Veterans’ Voices with...