News across Santa Cruz County
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Published September 27How maestro Daniel Stewart is shaping Santa Cruz Symphony’s 69th season
Santa Cruz Symphony Music Director Daniel Stewart is bringing together Dvořák and Nina Simone, Stravinsky and BTS, Rachmaninoff and virtual reality pioneer Jaron Lanier for the orchestra’s 69th season, “Music Unites Us.” Jana Marcus sat down with Stewart to find out how those…
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Published September 27Made in Santa Cruz: Why Art Matters | I.B. Bayo
“Made in Santa Cruz: Why Art Matters” is a video series, published every other Sunday, exploring the artists who shape Santa Cruz County's creative landscape. Each episode offers a peek into an artist's practice, the places and experiences that inform their work, and the ways…
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Published September 25Discover. Experience. Connect. Open Studios returns for it’s 41st year
October is almost here and it’s one of our favorite times of the year – the weather is nearly perfect and the sunsets couldn’t be dreamier. It’s the perfect scenario for the 41st annual Open Studios Art Tour where the public has the opportunity to explore the county discovering…
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Published 4 hours agoWatsonville Community Hospital NICU remains closed, adding anxiety for expecting families
Watsonville Community Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit has been closed since mid-July because of staffing shortages, with no reopening date set. Local maternal health advocates say the closure is adding anxiety for expecting families.
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Published September 25Six reasons to be proud of banking locally with Bay Federal Credit Union
From national recognition and industry honors to awards chosen by local readers and community organizations. Bay Federal and the people behind it have been recognized for leadership, volunteerism, financial expertise, service, and the work they do every day to support members and…
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Published 4 hours agoCarmageddon: Santa Cruz County challenges drivers to ditch their cars for Week Without Driving
Week Without Driving, an annual effort that encourages people to use transit, bike, or walk instead of use cars, begins on Thursday and runs until the following Thursday, Oct, 8. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, Santa Cruz Metro, the county department of…
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Published 5 hours agoWhy Bright Plaza matters for Santa Cruz’s housing future
Bright Plaza has become a talking point in the city of Santa Cruz’s debate over housing, development and neighborhood change. The site could eventually hold more than 200 affordable homes, along with space for local businesses. Here, Workbench owners Jamileh Cannon, Tim Gordin…
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Published 5 hours agoLa unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales Watsonville Community Hospital sigue cerrada, aumentando la ansiedad entre las familias que esperan un bebé
La unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales (UCIN) del Watsonville Community Hospital permanece cerrada desde mediados de julio debido a la falta de personal, y aún no se ha establecido una fecha para su reapertura. Defensores locales de la salud materna afirman que el cierre…
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Published 5 hours agoFor students with disabilities, UC Santa Cruz campus can prove punishing to navigate
UC Santa Cruz, built in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, has longstanding accessibility challenges for students with disabilities.
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Published 5 hours agoBig slams, bigger Spirit: Sumo takes Santa Cruz
Kaiser Permanente Arena erupted with screams, slams and cheers as World Elite Sumo brought California’s first televised sumo wrestling event to Santa Cruz. Photojournalist Kevin Painchaud takes a peek behind the scenes and onto the mat as 12 wrestlers battled for the…
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Published September 26Santa Cruz County elections 2026: Which city candidates are raising the most campaign cash?
Thursday was the deadline for candidates running for local office to file their first campaign finance disclosures ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Here’s what the numbers say.
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Published September 25Santa Cruz County Fair saw increase in attendance after lowering admission prices
Santa Cruz County Fair officials say attendance at this year’s event increased by 11%.