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As this school year and my internship at Lookout Santa Cruz comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible journey it has been. Working as a Community Engagement Intern, I have been able to expand my sense of community within Santa Cruz, gain real-life experience in an office setting and more. I am so grateful for all of my time, connections and opportunities that I have been given at Lookout and will take what I have learned with me into future jobs and work experiences. 

When I first began at Lookout Santa Cruz, I hadn’t had much work experience in an office setting, having spent past internships doing remote work or in other sorts of spaces. Because of this, I entered Lookout a bit anxious about communicating with co-workers and advocating for help when I was confused on assignments. As I progressed in my internship and collaborated more with my co-workers, I grew more confident in my own abilities and learned how to ask for clarification when I needed it.

At Lookout, I had the chance to participate in projects and to help organize events it facilitated throughout the year. I joined Lookout in its fifth year as a Santa Cruz County news site, and therefore many of my projects centered around highlighting the work that Lookout has done for the community over the years. In the fall quarter, at the start of my internship, I created a five-year timeline of Lookout’s history. As a history major, I enjoyed getting to comb through the different projects and stories that Lookout has published. This project allowed me to learn about Santa Cruz County and situate myself in a place that I was still growing familiar with as a sophomore in college. I compiled the timeline into posters and was given the opportunity to write an article about my experience creating the timeline: Telling Lookout Santa Cruz’s story — and finding my own place in it. At the end of the project, I displayed my timeline posters in Lookout’s newsroom, leaving my mark on the office space. 

In the winter quarter, I worked on the HERStory project, collaborating with the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History to create visuals for its annual event honoring the women changemakers of Santa Cruz. For each woman who was nominated, representing the past, present and future of Santa Cruz, I made a poster including descriptions of each awardee and their achievements. I was inspired by the work that these women were doing across the county and feel extremely proud and grateful to have been a part of this celebration and honoring of these women. Attending the event at the MAH, which was full of community pride and happiness, and seeing my work displayed was an amazing experience.

Wrapping up my internship in the spring quarter, I focused on creating election materials, infographics and images for candidate forums hosted by Lookout. I especially enjoyed getting information translated into Spanish, using my bilingual skills to create material for the first Watsonville election event hosted by Lookout. Throughout this process, I was able to better get to know Santa Cruz County’s political climate. I also crafted an impact report to showcase Lookout’s work and hopes for its future. Getting to conclude my internship with this work was very rewarding and motivating. 

My time at Lookout Santa Cruz was special and allowed me to work on multiple projects. I gained many skills that I will take with me into future employment as well as a strong sense of pride in my new home and community connection. 

Galicia Stack Lozano is a student at UC Santa Cruz and an intern at Lookout Santa Cruz through the Humanities EXCEL program led by the UC Santa Cruz Humanities Division with strategic support from The Humanities Institute

The post Building connections through community journalism appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

“What do we want? Democracy! When do we want it? Now!”

This was one of the first slogans I heard approaching the No Kings protest, the first event that my editor at Lookout Santa Cruz tasked me with covering. I could feel my heart pounding its way out of my chest. I had been interning here for a month and half; I thought, they must really trust me to let me cover something this big. I’ll never forget this moment  – it was the first time I got to practice interviewing local residents, and I even got to speak to the event coordinator. 

No Kings 3

A month later, I got the opportunity to write a piece about the delay of CalFresh benefits for the month of November, and how that has affected UC Santa Cruz students who rely on them. Through this experience, I had the opportunity to practice the art of interviewing people, which provided me with insight into what matters most to Santa Cruzans. Some of the most notable people I got the chance to interview were Mayor Fred Keeley and Rep. Jimmy Panetta. 

On top of doing editorial work, I also got the opportunity to help out with our community outreach. I helped out at one of Lookout’s 2026 election forums, where candidates running for mayor and city council spoke about some of Santa Cruz’s most pressing issues. 

I really leveraged my communication skills in this role. Studying the humanities has helped me learn to share information clearly and thoughtfully, in an understandable, unbiased way. That skill became especially important when interviewing sources, writing stories and making complex local issues accessible to readers.

This summer, I will be attending the UC Center Sacramento program, where I will intern for a local organization such as Capitol Weekly or the governor’s office. 

If you want to support work like this, one simple but meaningful action is to subscribe to local news outlets and stay engaged by reading local journalism. And if you’re a student at UCSC, you can get a subscription to Lookout Santa Cruz for free, so I encourage you to take advantage of this resource.

Ashley Palma-Jimenez Intern

Ashley Palma-Jimenez is a student at UC Santa Cruz and an intern at Lookout Santa Cruz through the Humanities EXCEL program led by the UC Santa Cruz Humanities Division with strategic support from The Humanities Institute.

The post Covering Santa Cruz: An intern’s introduction to local journalism appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

A Watsonville Police officer was hurt on the job Monday morning during a foot pursuit of a woman suspected of shoplifting.

The incident began when WPD got a call regarding a woman that had stolen items from the Dollar Tree at 1010 Main St. around 9:50am. As police infiltrated the area officers were updated that the suspect, described as a female in a gray hoodie top and black pants, was walking past the Grocery Outlet toward downtown Watsonville.

Then an officer spotted her trying to flee officers around Rodriguez and Main streets, where she reportedly ditched the stolen items. As one officer gave foot pursuit, he appaently at the intersection of Freedom Boulevard at Main Street and suffered a serious injury to his leg. 

As police called for emergency medical and firefighter response, other officers managed to take the 34-year-old suspect into custody.

Police then shut down Main Street in the area and several surrounding lanes in the heavily travelled intersection to allow for the rescue effort.

The incident is still under investigation. No names have been released.

Farm workers harvest berries off West Beach Street near Watsonville on July 3, 2025. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

WATSONVILLE >> Noticias Watsonville contributor Pedro González Rentería tells the story of Antonia Vega González, owner of Dulce Organic Farms in Watsonville, through a short documentary film. Antonia’s story is especially powerful because her journey to owning her own farm started with being a fieldworker for more than two decades.

She was born in San Martin Peras, Oaxaca before making her way to Watsonville. As an Indigenous Mixtec woman, Antonia shares about the deep pride she has in her path from fieldworker to business owner.

“The documentary is a tribute to the resilience and pride of all farmers,” Rentería said of his reasons for pursuing the story.

Watch the video on InstagramWatch the video on Instagram

Questions or comments? Email info@santacruzlocal.org. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.

Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membership

The post Fieldworker turned business owner: Dulce Organic Farms appeared first on Santa Cruz Local.

This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 6:31 a.m..

Here’s what’s happening on the roads this morning…

▼︎ new incidents   ▼︎ long-term incidents

Road incidents as of 6:30 a.m. on June 22

• Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley has one-way traffic due to ongoing work. This closure will last until August 31.
   
• There will be alternating lane closures on Highway 9 at Pool Drive in San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. This will continue until April 30 at 6:59 a.m.
   
• A lane on westbound SR-152 at Clifford Drive/Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville/Pajaro is closed for asphalt paving. The closure will last until 5:59 a.m. on July 3.
   
• North Highway 17 at Pasatiempo in Eastside / Live Oak is facing closures for asphalt paving. The closure is expected to end at 6:01 a.m. today.
   
• CHP helped with construction at 10395 Soquel Dr in Aptos. At 9:13 p.m., a traffic break happened northbound at Morrissey, and lanes 2 and 3 were closed at Pasa. The incident was reported on June 21.
   
• A traffic hazard was reported at the intersection of San Juan Rd and Porter Dr in Watsonville / Pajaro at 5:56 a.m. today.
   

Long-term projects

These have been going on for a while, but are still worth keeping in mind.

• Mill St. between Main St. and Highway 9 in Ben Lomond will be closed to vehicles from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on 6/6, 7/4, 8/1, 9/5, and 10/3 for the Ben Lomond Village Market event. Traffic control and detour signs will be posted.
   

Disclosure: Traffic incidents are partially generated by artificial intelligence. We are constantly working to improve the accuracy and quality of our AI-generated content. However, there may still be errors or inaccuracies. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

The post Monday morning traffic: Highway 9 one-way traffic, SR-152 & Hwy 17 lane closures appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

A dispute between the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and property owners in Aptos Village about who owns a portion of land along the rail line is moving forward, with a trial expected to begin no earlier than the week of July 13.

A Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge scheduled a November trial date for Leif Ames, who faces murder charges in the killing of his friend Hubert Cross in Live Oak in 2020. The trial has been delayed on at least eight occasions.

A Pajaro Valley Unified School District committee has recommended renaming Cesar E. Chavez Middle School either Central Coast Middle School or Tagami Hashimoto Middle School following allegations of sexual abuse against the late civil rights and farmworker advocate that surfaced earlier this year. The school board reviewed the options last week and is expected to vote on a new name at a future meeting.

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for its newsletters.

Legislators last week approved a health tax bill meant to continue critical federal funding for the state’s Medicaid program, also known as Medi-Cal. Their approval comes despite warnings from health industry leaders that the tax, as designed, will raise premiums for privately insured Californians.

New federal rules are forcing the state to restructure its managed care organization tax, or MCO tax, which the state collects from health insurance plans that coordinate care for their members. California has been charging Medi-Cal insurance plans at a higher rate than private plans. The state’s newly designed solution, Senate Bill 125, will lower the tax on Medi-Cal plans and raise the tax on private plans to the same level. If finalized by the governor, and accepted by the federal government, the new plan would shift more of the cost burden onto people who buy private insurance but bring in less revenue overall. 

Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón, a Santa Barbara Democrat, told reporters last week that there was no perfect plan for redesigning the tax and that the Senate still has concerns, but the proposal senators voted through is one that would bring in money quickly. 

“We have as a Senate been very clear that we needed revenue … it was a matter of making a decision which we could troubleshoot given what is happening at the federal level,” Limón said.

As part of the tax and spending law Congress passed last summer, the federal government imposed new restrictions on provider taxes, including the one imposed on health plans. Under existing rules, California received almost $8 billion annually from this tax; the new limits mean the state will receive billions less. The Legislature’s plan tries to fill at least some of that gap.

The plan does not directly raise health insurance premiums. Instead it imposes a higher tax on private plans, which have said they’d pass the cost down to consumers.

The proposal would require all health plans, both public and private, to pay a monthly rate of $8.85 per enrollee – a total cost of about $1.5 billion a year for private plans. If health plans pass the entire tax to their members, Californians could see about a 1.5% increase in their monthly premiums, according to the independent Legislative Analyst’s Office. That’s on top of the yearly premium rate increases that people see year to year. 

The California Association of Health Plans, the health insurance lobby, estimates this would translate to consumers paying about $100 more in premiums each year. That means a family of four could be looking at $400 more a year in health premiums. 

Charles Bacchi, president of the association, said health plans roll taxes and fees into the administrative portion of premiums. “That is just actuarial science,” he said. “So when you increase taxes on health plans and insurers, that is built into premium rates and the customer pays it.”

Affordability is key concern

The Legislature’s plan largely mirrors what Gov. Gavin Newsom and his Department of Finance proposed last month. Bacchi argues the state could have imposed a smaller tax to lessen the impact on plans and consumers. 

The Department of Finance said it tried to balance affordability for privately insured patients with generating enough revenue to keep the safety net afloat amid federal funding cuts. The department settled on the $8.85 a month assessment because that  rate would generate $2.3 billion a year – roughly the amount that the state generated before 2023 to support Medi-Cal, said H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson for the Department of Finance.

A medical worker pushing a bed through the corridors of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister. Credit: Larry Valenzuela / CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Of that total, $2 billion would support existing Medi-Cal services, while roughly $300 million would fund previously established rate increases for providers delivering primary, maternal, and mental health care to enrollees, Palmer said. 

Some legislators continued to raise concerns late into the week. Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, a San Diego Democrat, said she found the tax plan “extremely problematic” as she questioned the administration during a hearing Wednesday. “I am very uncomfortable with this proposal and the economic burden it will have on the families I serve as a Senator but also a physician.” She voted for the measure on Thursday.

Bacchi’s organization, along with physician groups and the California Hospital Association, urged legislators to reject the tax proposal as is.

“What makes this vote especially disappointing is that California leaders continue to talk about affordability as a top priority,” health plans said in a statement after the Assembly approved the measure. “It is difficult to reconcile those statements with a vote that will increase health insurance premiums on the very people policymakers say they are trying to help.”

Industry leaders also argued that the tax measure conflicts with Proposition 35, which voters passed in 2024 and which limits the taxes charged to private health plans. Prop 35 also requires that much of the revenue be used to expand Medi-Cal services and increase provider rates, rather than offset general fund spending on the program. 

“Raising health insurance premiums to help balance the state budget is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul,” said Dr. René Bravo, president of the California Medical Association, which represents doctors around the state. “It will only make it harder for families to keep coverage and get the care they need.”

New federal rules prompt tax redesign

California is redesigning its MCO tax to comply with new federal rules implemented through H.R. 1, the spending plan Congress approved last year. California currently charges Medicaid plans, which are reimbursed jointly by the state and federal government, a significantly higher tax than private plans. The state then uses revenue from this tax to draw down matching federal funds. 

The Trump administration argues that states “exploit” this funding mechanism by effectively pushing their share of Medicaid costs onto the federal government. Critics of the tax describe its “net effect” this way: Insurers remain financially whole, federal Medicaid spending increases, and states reduce their own costs.

To close what federal officials call a “loophole,” the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a final rule earlier this year prohibiting states from taxing Medicaid plans more than commercial plans. Now that the legislature has approved California’s revised MCO tax plan, Newsom must sign the measure in order for the state to seek approval for it from the federal government.

Consumer advocates say that maintaining strong revenues from the MCO tax is key to keeping the Medi-Cal program running. But if the state knows that insurers will pass the cost onto private customers through higher premiums, California legislators should ensure the money remains within the health system and improves care. 

“What we don’t find acceptable is to have individual healthcare consumers pay increased premiums to support the MCO tax, and then just have that money backfill the general fund,” said Kiran Savage-Sangwan, executive director of the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network. 

Because the Legislature’s plan resembles the governor’s proposal, budget experts expect Newsom to sign it as part of the larger budget package. One major hurdle remains, however: federal approval. The Trump administration must approve the state’s revised tax plan for California to continue drawing down federal matching funds. 

The job of lawmakers is to put together a proposal that is compliant with new federal rules, said Adriana Ramos-Yamamoto, a senior policy fellow at the California Budget and Policy Center. 

But, she added, “it’s not a guarantee that the federal government will approve our new MCO tax proposal.”

Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.

Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.

The post California is getting ready to increase a health insurance tax. Will it affect your premium? appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Julia Monahan, of Get The Flock Out, listens during public comment at a city council meeting at Santa Cruz City Hall on Nov. 18, 2025. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Alexandria Bordas is the Managing Editor at Santa Cruz Local.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY >> We’ve heard from hundreds of residents via Instagram, email, surveys and in-person listening events that government transparency is top of your list when it comes to our recent news coverage. Our reporters responded, and in one of our most important reporting feats to date we examined the use of automated license plate readers operated by Flock Safety: an Atlanta-based company contracted with hundreds of agencies across the country.

Our ongoing investigation into Flock Safety started in August, 2025, when we first started hearing pushback from the community to contracts with Flock being approved by Watsonville Police Department. The main concerns first brought up by anti-surveillance advocates were mostly centered on local law enforcement agents potentially handing over information to federal agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. State law has legally prevented law enforcement agencies within California from sharing data collected by Flock cameras with out-of-state agencies since 2016, but critics said there might still be ways around the law.

Then in November, senior reporter Jesse Kathan uncovered a damning truth: throughout 2024 and early 2025, federal and out-of-state law enforcement agencies searched Capitola Police Department’s database of automatic license plate readers more than three million times, violating multiple laws. At least 190 were done by sheriffs offices and police departments running searches on behalf of ICE. Similar data breaches occurred in the City of Santa Cruz, which Jesse revealed less than two weeks after the Capitola story broke. In the immediate aftermath, thousands of people took to social media to demand local leaders weigh in on the issue and take action. As a result, residents and activists collaborated to engage on the issue of data privacy and the role of local government. 

The impact of our reporting is clear and growing:

• On Jan. 13, the Santa Cruz City Council voted to end its contract with Flock Safety.
• In Capitola, the police chief announced new audits and processes to comply with the law.
• Local advocates are trying to start discussions over Flock with elected officials in Watsonville, which contracts 37 cameras – the most out of any city in the county. 
• Candidates running for office in this year’s election cycle are consistently including talking points about Flock and data surveillance in their campaigns. 
• Hundreds of people reached out to us on Instagram asking about how we reported the story, and Jesse teamed up with in-house visual reporter Amaya Edwards to tell the tale.

We’re not the true heroes of this story – we’re only a catalyst. It’s because of residents and advocates like Get the Flock Out, who pressured elected leaders on Santa Cruz City Council to cancel its contract with Flock Safety on Jan. 13, that we’re seeing real policy change.

Flock cameras are in thousands of communities across California and the country and we’ve gotten requests from other journalists, activists, researchers and curious residents across the state about how to replicate the data process we used to look into our local agencies. We want local governments to be transparent about how the data is used, and empower residents and other journalists to demand these public records. In response, we’ve created this guide on how to investigate Flock in your community. 

Our guide for requesting, tracking and analyzing Flock Safety data in your own communities. Also, check out our civic engagement tracker to see what other critical topics we’ve been following in Santa Cruz County.

Do you have suggestions on what we should cover next? Reach out to senior reporter Jesse Kathan: jesse@santacruzlocal.org.

Questions or comments? Email info@santacruzlocal.org. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.

Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membership

The post Civic impact: our continued reporting on Flock Safety appeared first on Santa Cruz Local.

A Dungeons & Dragons program offered by Santa Cruz Public Libraries offers a welcoming and fun environment for people interested in the game thanks to an enthusiastic volunteer, who’ll be leaving the program to embark on a new chapter living in Europe.

Santa Cruz’s iconic surfer statue has long celebrated the city’s surf culture – but it tells only half the story, write two veteran Santa Cruz surfers, Kaila Pearson and Sarah Gerhardt, the first woman to surf Mavericks in 1999. From Antoinette Swan and the Hawaiian princes to generations of pioneering women who challenged barriers in the lineup, women have helped shape Santa Cruz surfing from the beginning, they argue. A companion statue honoring the women of the water would, they write, recognize women’s often-overlooked contributions and reflect the full history of our surf town. If Santa Cruz values its surfing heritage, they believe, it should make that legacy visible for future generations.

Local female surfers Kaila Pearson and Sarah Gerhardt explain why the statue project matters to the Santa Cruz County community and to them personally.

Aptos High junior Nick Bjorn was named the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s Most Valuable Player for his superb play on the golf course during the 2026 spring season.

Bjorn was runner-up in the SCCAL individual championship at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz on April 28. He earned medalist honors in seven of the 10 league matches played this season, helping lead Aptos to an SCCAL regular season team championship.

Aptos coach Paul Zech was named the SCCAL’s Coach of the Year, while freshman Brayden Wilson earned all-league first team honors.

Below is a complete list of All-SCCAL honorees for boys golf, boys tennis, boys volleyball and girls beach volleyball.

Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League 2026 all-league teams Boys golf Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player: Nick Bjorn (Jr.), Aptos

Sportsmanship Award: Cash Moran (Sr.), Soquel

Coach of the Year: Paul Zech, Aptos

First Team

Tanner Brewer (Sr.), SLV 

Brayden Wilson (Fr.), Aptos 

Kyler Samples (Sr.), Harbor 

Seamus Drees (Sr.), Scotts Valley 

Riley Shank (So.), Soquel 

Garret Dahlen (Jr.), SLV

Second Team

Andrew Roberts (Fr.), Harbor

Peter Roboloth (Jr.), Soquel

Gunther Krueger (So.), Harbor

Gavin Easton (Sr.), Santa Cruz

Brogan Beasley (Sr.), Scotts Valley

Gavin Doherty (Jr.), Scotts Valley

Honorable Mention

Santiago Toledo (Sr.), Santa Cruz

Fischer Howard (So.), Santa Cruz

Lochlin Bishoffberger (Jr.), SLV

Carson Chubb (So.), SLV

Cade Mosely (Fr.), Harbor

Nico Marinovic (Sr.), Harbor

Cole Christensen (Jr.), Soquel

Kyle Lambrecht (So.), Soquel

Jack Garvey (Jr.), Aptos

Adrian Creamer (Jr.), Scotts Valley

Hudson Spielvogel (So.), Scotts Valley

Zane Siechen (Sr.), Scotts Valley

Boys tennis Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player: Hudson Ward (Sr.), Soquel

Coach of the Year: Kumaran Arulanantham, Santa Cruz

First Team Singles

Ben Zaretsky (Sr.), Aptos

Jeremy Arulanantham (Jr.), Santa Cruz

Tenzin Fathman (Fr.), Santa Cruz

Hudson Ward (Sr.), Soquel

Second Team Singles

Stellan Wu (Fr.), Santa Cruz

Torin Miller (Sr.), Soquel

Raphael Bouchet (Jr.), Scotts Valley

Aditya Hannon (Sr.), Scotts Valley

First Team Doubles

Kai Vargas (Jr.), Santa Cruz

Oscar Sapunor (So.), Santa Cruz

Ian Burchell (Sr.), Santa Cruz

Sam Galli (So.), Scotts Valley

Second Team Doubles

Nate Wexler (So.), Scotts Valley

Zabel Oatey (Jr.), Harbor

Sawyer Amos (Jr.), San Lorenzo Valley

Nico Salinas (Jr.), Aptos

All-Sportsmanship Team

George Jertberg (So.), Aptos

Lukas Novotny (Fr.), Santa Cruz

Everett Callendar (Jr.), SLV

Freddy Padilla (So.), Scotts Valley

Abraham Bachar (Jr.), Harbor

Elias Garcia (Sr.), Soquel

Boys volleyball Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player: Cooper Lastition (Sr.), Harbor

Mark Brewer Award: Nikowa D’Costa-Hemp (Sr.), Mt. Madonna

Coach of the Year: PK McDonald, Mt. Madonna

First Team

Solomon Coleman (Jr.), Mt. Madonna

Lucas Kamalani (Sr.), Santa Cruz

Guillermo Mazier (Jr.), Santa Cruz

Grady McKee (Sr.), Harbor

Nikowa D’Costa Hemp (Sr.), Mt. Madonna

Matty Rayray (Jr.), Santa Cruz

Josh Rejfir (Sr.), Harbor

Second Team

David Monclus (Jr.), Mt. Madonna

Rocklin Paco (Jr.), Harbor

Charlie Hess (Sr.), Santa Cruz

Keoni Raatior (So.), Soquel

Zach Livingston Shults (So.), SLV

Xavier Knight (Sr.), SLV

Ryan Wait (Sr.), Harbor

Honorable Mention

Hans Hagge (Sr.), Mt. Madonna

James Lagerwey (Sr.), Aptos

Sean Mullen (Sr.), Aptos

Thomas Obrero (Sr.), Soquel

Johnny Abbott (Jr.), Soquel

Guillermo Mazier Bittar, Santa Cruz

Nathan Monroe, Santa Cruz

Troy Thompson (Sr.), Scotts Valley

Will Shanks (Sr.), Scotts Valley

Zack King (Sr.), SLV

Hunter Lallemand (Sr.), SLV

JJ Laughlin (Jr.), Harbor 

Freddie Morgali (Sr.), Harbor

Girls beach volleyball First Team [A-Division]

Emma Benedetti (So.) and Lana Walding (So.), Soquel

Leela Whiting (Fr.) and Haisley Flanagan (So.), Santa Cruz

Cecile Novembre (Jr.) and Dylan Schutz (Jr.), Harbor

Cia Johnson (So.) and Caitlin Lavelle (So.), Aptos

Hayden Smith (Sr.) and Rylee Giesen (Sr.), Scotts Valley

Kenzie Smith (Sr.) and Emily Mumford (Fr.), Aptos

Second Team [A-Division]

Lyla Vyvyan (Jr.) and Ruby Hyatt (So.), Soquel

Chloe Schantz (So.) and Maggie Redwine (Jr.), Santa Cruz

Kaia Harrah (So.) and Lena Jordan (So.), Aptos

Eliana Russell (Sr.) and Chloe Goodman (So.), Santa Cruz

Liberty Niesen (Jr.) and Lise Corstorphine (So.), Harbor

Coco Castro (Sr.) and Marina Tucker (Sr.), Harbor

First Team [B-Division]

Mayla Spahn (Jr.) and Jessie Ingram (So.), Monte Vista Christian

Hollyn Hearne (Sr.) and Xienna Novoa (Sr.), King City

Stephanie Velasquez (Sr.) and Ella Rubbo (Fr.), King City

Monze Camacho (Fr.) and Fernanda Cid (Fr.), King City

Gretel Martin (Fr.) and Hope Tyler (Fr.), St. Abraham’s

Farrin O’Hara (Sr.) and Amelie Pan (Jr.), Pacific Collegiate School

Second Team [B-Division]

Norah Rondia (So.) and Audrey Nelson (So.), MVC

Jocelyn Jacquez (Fr.) and Melody Sanchez (Fr.), King City

Kamila Lindsay (Fr.) and Mia Sudek (So.), PCS

Sariah Braddock (Fr.) and Ruby Brownlee (Fr.), St. Abraham’s

Cecilia Tannaci (Jr.) and Lily Graney (Fr.), PCS

Sam Bertoldi (Sr.) and Claire Marshall (So.), MVC

Aptos High junior Cole McGillicuddy earned All-Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League First Team honors for the 2026 baseball season.

The Cal-Berkeley commit batted a .500 average (33-for-66), including six home runs, 11 doubles, 30 RBIs, 28 runs scored and 14 stolen bases, according to the Max Preps website. 

On the mound, McGillicuddy owned a 4-2 record with a 3.40 ERA while tallying 40 strikeouts in 10 appearances for the Mariners, who were runners-up in the SCCAL standings with a 9-6 record in league play.

Teammate junior Finn Cormier earned All-SCCAL Second Team honors. He batted a .321 average (17-for-53), including three home runs, a pair of doubles, 18 RBIs, 14 runs scored and seven steals.

Below is a complete list of the 2026 All-SCCAL baseball teams.

Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League 2026 all-league baseball teams Individual Awards

Player of the Year: Jake Escalante (Sr.), Soquel

Pitchers of the Year: Joey Raffo (Sr.), Harbor; Luke Shoemaker (Jr.), Soquel

Coach of the Year: TJ Moran, Soquel

First Team

Connor Corlett (Sr.), Soquel 

Dylan Hull (Sr.), Soquel

Noah Solano (Sr.), Harbor

Cole McGillicuddy (Jr.), Aptos

Hudson Summerrill (Sr.), Soquel

Rex Thompson (Jr.), Scotts Valley

Pierre Bell (So.), Harbor

Brady Downs (Sr.), Soquel

Cam Fusari (Sr.), Santa Cruz

Cash Moran (Sr.), Soquel

Trey Sousa (Sr.), Soquel

Second Team

Elliott Smith (So.), Scotts Valley

Adam Fowler (So.), Santa Cruz

Luke Santee (Jr.), Soquel

Finn Cormier (Jr.), Aptos

Bryce McDonnell (Jr.), Scotts Valley

Brody Egner (Sr.), San Lorenzo Valley

Caleb Cmaylo (Sr.), Santa Cruz

Sam Whelan (Sr.), Soquel

Larrabee Mitchell (Jr.), SLV

Matteo Caltabiano (Sr.), Santa Cruz

Honorable Mention

Damien Espinoza (So.), Aptos 

Alec Mendoza (Jr.), Aptos 

Logan Felich (Jr.), Harbor 

Evan Lampel (Fr.), Harbor 

Liam Fields-Rapley (So.), SLV 

Spencer Bruce (Jr.), SLV 

Merrick Smith (Fr.), Santa Cruz 

Merrick DaCosta (Fr.), Santa Cruz 

Monte Jordan (Jr.), Scotts Valley 

Dash Baker (Jr.), Scotts Valley 

Anthony Skinner (So.), Soquel 

Scotty Miller (Jr.), Soquel

A 22-year-old woman accused of threatening the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees last month has been arrested.

Tanya Diaz was charged with making a criminal threat, a felony. She was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on $25,000 bail, according to jail records. She was no longer in custody as of Friday afternoon.

Police do not believe there is an active threat to the community or PVUSD staff.

Board President Carol Turley did not respond to a request for comment.

Watsonville Police did not specify the nature of the threat.

Trustee Misty Navarro said during the board meeting Wednesday that it came after the May 20 meeting, when the board voted 5-2 to approve more than 100 teacher layoffs.

Navarro then read a comment she said was posted on the Lookout Santa Cruz website.

“Who do we need to shoot for this? I think we should start taking these people out, they’re not going to stop just saying.”

A handful of people had “liked” the comment, Navarro said, adding that it remained on the Lookout website for six hours before it was removed despite her requests.

The Pajaronian has reached out to Lookout for comment.

Navarro said the threat reflects the often vitriolic culture that has come to define board meetings.

Navarro pointed to comments made during Wednesday’s board meeting, including Trustee Gabe Medina calling her a “racist” and a “white supremacist” without offering evidence.

“I have a balance of logic and emotion, and I will vote in the way that I believe is the best for my community,” Navarro said. “But I will not do so at my own peril. And I do not believe that my volunteer service warrants a death threat, which is why I said 100 percent, please prosecute this person to the full extent of the law.”

After the district reported the threat, investigators served a search warrant at Diaz’s residence in the 200 block of Mesa Verde Drive.

No firearms were found during the search, and no guns are registered to Diaz, police said. During the investigation, she admitted that she wrote the threatening social media comment.

“The Watsonville Police Department takes all threats seriously, whether made in person or online,” WPD stated in a Facebook post. “Every threat is thoroughly investigated to ensure the safety of our community.”

“I raise this tonight because it does not exist in isolation,” Navarro said, pointing to a recent San Jose Mercury News story detailing a significant rise in threats against public officials, particularly women.

“This district is not exempt from that trend,” she said. “We owe one another and the public we serve a basic standard of conduct when it does not include language inviting violence against elected trustees. I ask that Lookout and this community hold the same standard.”

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