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A California law going into effect Wednesday bans the use of “sell by” labels on food packaging. Manufacturers selling food in California must now use two standardized labels — a “best if used by” label for peak quality and a “use by” label for product safety.

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

California librarians were stunned when a last-minute budget change stripped K-12 schools of a trove of research materials, potentially leaving thousands of students without resources to do reports, projects or homework assignments.

Without notice to schools or librarians, the Legislature last week canceled $5.5 million that pays online fees for the Encyclopedia Britannica, New York Times, PBS videos such as Ken Burns documentaries, scientific journals and thousands of other online materials used by students and teachers. The cut goes into effect on July 1, 2027.

“We had no idea this was coming,” said Greg Lucas, head of the California State Library, which helps oversee the program for California’s 10,000 public schools. “This will have a huge impact on California students.”

The program, called Compass, is an online database of research and curriculum materials that have been vetted by teachers and librarians. Compass is also available through public libraries, but the vast majority of users are at K-12 schools. Since the program launched in 2018, it’s received nearly 1 billion hits.

Students use Compass for classroom assignments as well as for recreation. Many of the materials are available in multiple languages. Among the more popular features are National Geographic Kids; Pebble Go Science, which includes hundreds of science activities for pre-kindergarten through second grade; and Alexander Street, which offers videos of cultural performances such as the Joffrey Ballet and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Compass is especially important at a time when fewer schools have libraries — and librarians — to help students with research. Although nearly 90% of schools have physical space on campus for books, magazines and other research materials, only about a quarter of those spaces are staffed by librarians. The rest are staffed by volunteers, classified employees or not at all. California ranks 49th nationwide in school librarian staffing, with nearly 10,000 students for each librarian, according to research by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 

Compass is available free to all schools in California. If schools were to subscribe individually to Compass materials, they’d spend more than $216 million annually, according to a State Library report. A typical medium-sized school district might pay $100,000 or more for the services, an expense lower-income districts are less likely to have money for.  

Losing the service raises concerns about internet access

Without access to Compass materials, students would likely rely on free resources online. But those materials tend to contain advertisements or track user data, a violation of state student privacy laws. They also are less likely to be vetted for accuracy, a particular danger in the age of artificial intelligence.

“Losing Compass is catastrophic for the state of California,” said Kate MacMillan, library services coordinator for Napa Valley Unified. “This service is a lifeline. I can’t believe the Legislature would let this happen.”

Funding for Compass was in earlier versions of the budget the Legislature debated over the past few months. But the final version eliminated Compass funding after July 1, 2027. Instead, it directs $5 million of the funding toward the state’s new dyslexia screener, and $60,000 for technical support of an online lesson-sharing platform called California Educators Together.

Legislators and staff members on the budget education committees contacted by CalMatters did not comment on why the money was cut. 

Meanwhile, librarians are launching an aggressive campaign to save the program. They’re emailing Newsom and the Legislature, and trying to bring attention to the issue.

Connie Williams, a retired school librarian and former head of the California School Library Association, said that losing Compass will exacerbate disparities in the state’s education system. Lower-income schools will lose crucial learning resources, while higher-income schools will be able to pay the subscription costs themselves, without state assistance.

“The disparity will be overwhelmingly glaring,” Williams said. “We’re leaving students at the mercy of whatever is free on the internet.”

It’s especially galling, she said, that this move comes as the state is promoting media and digital literacy in schools. In 2023 California enacted a law requiring schools to teach media literacy in all subjects, with a focus on teaching students to recognize fake news, determine if an information source is trustworthy and generally think critically about what they view and read online.

“We want students to think critically, put away their phones, know how to do research,” Williams said. “And we’re grabbing away some of the best learning tools we have.”

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In a letter to the editor, an Aptos resident applauds a recent Community Voices op-ed about Driscoll’s and pesticides.

The Bay Area will host one more World Cup match, which is slated for Wednesday at 5 p.m. — and it’s a big one. The U.S. men’s national team takes the pitch for a high-stakes knockout match against Bosnia-Herzegovina just a short drive up the road from Santa Cruz County. 

There are still last-minute tickets available at Levi’s Stadium through authorized resale sites, as FIFA’s primary sale has ended and the organization is no longer selling tickets. Those resale platforms are StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats.

However, jumping at the opportunity will be costly. To the surprise of no one, even the cost of the cheapest tickets dwarf most prices you’ll find for a typical sporting event. No single ticket is priced beneath a four-digit dollar amount.

On StubHub on Tuesday afternoon, tickets ranged from $1,407 to $3,487. Tickets from SeatGeek were similar, ranging from $1,386 to $5,852. Vivid Seats tickets started at $1,329 and reached all the way to $9,316 and above for the Category 1 and 2 seats — considered the best views in the house.

If those figures don’t scare you away, make your way to one of those providers as soon as you can. Tickets are going fast and there is only a limited number remaining.

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Businesses operating in Santa Cruz County must register with the county clerk. Lookout Santa Cruz reviews the public filings from local businesses to report on new businesses starting in the area.

Here is what’s new in local business recently.

New businesses

• GREEN HILL GARDENING was registered at 236 Miramar Dr., Santa Cruz, by Gavin Wellington Hill as an individual business on June 22.
• AKFLORES CONSULTING was registered at 260 Camino Al Barranco, Watsonville, by Alexandre Kozoroski Flores as an individual business on June 22.
• COFFEE AND JAM was registered at 107 Washburn Ave., Capitola, by John Borgman as an individual business on June 22.
• DR JIMI’S HANDYMAN SERVICES was registered at 590 Madrona Ave., Felton, by Phd Operations, LLC, as a limited liability company on June 22.
• BLACKWING MARKETING was registered at 270 Cambridge Dr., Watsonville, by Blackwing Ventures, LLC, as a limited liability company on June 22.
• ARTTERIE, YOLTZIN was registered at 191 Acorn Dr., Boulder Creek, by Yoltzin Q Delgado as an individual business on June 22.
• HELENA ROMERO ART was registered at 519 Humes Ave., Aptos, by Helen Thompson as an individual business on June 22.
• ALIGNED WITH ALLY was registered at 511c Swift St., Santa Cruz, by Allyson N Torres as an individual business on June 22.
• FEHER SUPPLY POTS MATERIAL NURSERIES was registered at 63 Mount Madonna Rd., Watsonville, by Fernandez Hernandez Antonia as an individual business on June 22.
• OMNIA STONE AND TILE was registered at 825 Walker St. #102, Watsonville, by Mx Builders, Inc. as a corporation on June 22.
• ALEXAS DOG GROOMING MOBILE was registered at 1 Amesty Rd., Watsonville, by Bernardo Garcia Contreras as an individual business on June 22.
• ALCHEMY EPOXY COATINGS was registered at 216 Arthur Rd., Watsonville, by Martin Evan Gonzalez as an individual business on June 23.
• THE SANTA CRUZ CHILDREN’S THEATRE was registered at 510 Riverview Dr., Boulder Creek, by Sunflower Stages LLC as a limited liability company on June 23.
• HotelKio was registered at 228 Potrero St., #B, Santa Cruz, by Hotelkio LLC as a limited liability company on June 23.
• SANTA CRUZ CABANA COMPANY was registered at 516 Wilkes Circle, Santa Cruz, by Santa Cruz Cabana Company LLC as a limited liability company on June 23.
• TOM’S PAINT & FINISH was registered at 154 Elm St., Watsonville, by Thomas Tamayo Alvarez as an individual business on June 23.
• LATIN FINANCE was registered at 1481 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville, by Dagoberto Marin Gomez as an individual business on June 23.
• UN FINANCE was registered at 1481 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville, by Uriel Nolasco Hernandez as an individual business on June 23.
• FLOW IN KINETIC CURVES was registered at 2800 A Glen Canyon Rd., Santa Cruz, by Randolph Lee Smith as an individual business on June 23.
• SANTA CRUZ POOP SCOOPERS was registered at 10 Fred Court, Scotts Valley, by Reilachi Ventures LLC as a limited liability company on June 24.
• MATH ROCKS was registered at 22 Blake Lane, Scotts Valley, by Nadzeya Miatselitsa as an individual business on June 24.
• MONUMENT BUILDERS INC. was registered at 103 Bluebonnet Lane, Scotts Valley, by Monument Builders Inc. as a corporation on June 24.
• CORRALITOS CREEK SANCTUARY, INVISION HEALTH was registered at 52 Browns Valley Rd., Corralitos, by Gina Lynn Locatelli as an individual business on June 24.
• DRIP 2 HARD BARBERSHOP was registered at 2120 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, by Drip Fades Barbershop LLC as a limited liability company on June 24.
• PENCILS PORTRAITS PAINTS was registered at 127 Prospect Court, Santa Cruz, by Pencils Portraits Paints LLC as a limited liability company on June 24.
• AMERICAN INSPECTION SERVICE was registered at 165 Hillcrest Ave., Ben Lomond, by Chance Group Inc as a corporation on June 24.
• FUSION DANCE COMPANY was registered at 272 Hames Rd., Watsonville, by Cambell Ruth Walker as an individual business on June 24.
• DENHAM CONSTRUCTION was registered at 491 5th Ave., Santa Cruz, by Jordan Riley Denham as an individual business on June 25.
• MINDFUL-MEDIATION, LLC was registered at 226 Campus Dr., Aptos, by Mindful-mediation, LLC as a limited liability company on June 25.
• ELAINE MURPHY NUTRITION was registered at 732 Delta Way, Watsonville, by Mary Elaine Murphy as an individual business on June 25.
• TERIYAKI MADNESS was registered at 550 River St., Suite D, Santa Cruz, by Archgate Inc as a corporation on June 25.
• GIVE THANKS was registered at 2851 Research Park Dr., Suite D, Soquel, by Stony Cruz LLC as a limited liability company on June 25.
• MIKE’S PLUMBING was registered at 8297 Hermosa Ave., Ben Lomond, by Michael Rose as an individual business on June 25.
• SANTA CRUZ RECOVERY LOUNGE was registered at 542 Ocean St., Suite # I & J, Santa Cruz, by William R Maximiuk as an individual business on June 26.
• CALCOMP ADVISORY was registered at 113 E 5th St., Watsonville, by Linda L Rosser as an individual business on June 26.
• RESCUED BY THE DUSTY BAG LADY, THE DUSTY BAG LADY BOUTIQUE, THE DUSTY BAG LADY ENTERPRISES, THE DUSTY BAG LADY ON WHEELS, THE DUSTY PEARL COLLECTION was registered at 5515 Washington Way, Felton, by Khristine Joanne Guire as an individual business on June 26.
• EL BARRIO OAXAQUENO INC was registered at 329 Rodriguez St., Watsonville, by El Barrio Oaxaqueno Inc as a corporation on June 26.
• WINDWARD LEADERSHIP LABS was registered at 1329 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz, by Katelyn Marie Lucille Judge as an individual business on June 26.

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The ruling allows states to ban transgender student athletes from playing on girls’ and women’s teams, but doesn’t require it. States like California can keep their current policies.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a broad conception of birthright citizenship, rejecting President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring that children born to people who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens.

Here’s what’s happening on Santa Cruz County roads this morning…

▼︎ new incidents   ▼︎ long-term incidents

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

• Highway 9 is facing closures in both directions at Pool Drive in the San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closure is expected to end at 5:59 a.m. on July 2.
   
• A lane on north Highway 9 at Two Bar Road in the San Lorenzo Valley is closed for bridge work. The closure will last until 6:01 a.m. on July 2.
   
• Alternating lanes are closed on Highway 9 at Riverdale Park in the San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closure is expected to last until April 30, 2027.
   
• There is one-way traffic on Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in the San Lorenzo Valley because of ongoing work. This closure will last until Aug. 31.
   
• A lane on westbound Highway 152 at Clifford Drive/Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville is closed for asphalt paving. The closure will last until 5:59 a.m. on July 3.
• A section of Coolidge Drive between High Street and Hagar Road in Santa Cruz will be closed to northbound traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through today to allow county crews to do pavement work.
   
• Playa Boulevard will be closed between Palma Avenue and Benito Avenue in La Selva Beach on July 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the annual La Selva Beach Fourth of July Parade.
• Pine Street (between Highway 236 and Harmon Street) and Lomond Street (between Pine Street and Railroad Avenue) in Boulder Creek will be closed for the Boulder Creek Fourth of July Parade.
• Soquel Drive will be closed between State Park Drive and Trout Gulch Road in Aptos on July 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the annual Aptos Fourth of July Parade.
   

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 Tuesday morning traffic: Highway 9 closures; July 4 parade road closures ahead appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The City of Santa Cruz’s GO BIKE! Downtown E-Bike Rebate program has long been popular, with 254 e-bikes sold and $134,800 in rebates dispersed over the past five years. And with gas prices hitting a new record high in California this year and e-bike sales skyrocketing, the city has been preparing to meet the continued demand.

Starting Wednesday, the city will relaunch its GO BIKE! program, with the rebate tiers increasing to a $500 base amount and $1,000 for low-income individuals. The program is designed to provide workers with cheaper e-bikes, reduce barriers to biking and encourage more downtown workers to use bikes for transportation. 

Claire Gallogly is the principal transportation planner for the City of Santa Cruz and manages the greater GO Santa Cruz Downtown program, which includes the GO BIKE! program. On top of the e-bike rebates, GO also provides things such as free transit passes, BCycle memberships, commute workshops and carpool assistance.

She said the city recognizes that while e-bikes are a more affordable way to get around for many trips than a car, there’s still a large up-front purchase price. As such, she continued, the increase in the rebate amounts reflect what the community is feeling with the increased cost of living.

“Across the board, we have experienced costs going up. People are paying more for gas, groceries, rent, so many things,” Gallogly said. “Rebate has always been a tool to address part of this cost concern.”

People who work within the downtown Santa Cruz parking district are eligible to apply for a rebate, and the program is funded by the downtown parking district’s parking fees. The rebate funds must be spent at Santa Cruz County bike shops, and GO BIKE! is partnering with nine shops across Santa Cruz and Watsonville.

The applications for the rebate program are first-come, first-served starting Wednesday.

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Ahead of Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting, county staff have prepared a new parks budget proposal that preserves most of the county’s arts funding and avoids major cuts in services and programs offered by the department.

A widely cited claim that Santa Cruz County’s childhood cancer rate is 38% above the state average is muddling the debate about pesticide reform, writes Watsonville activist and retired nurse Kathleen Kilpatrick. The number doesn’t prove pesticides cause cancer and shouldn’t be used that way, she writes. But correcting that statistic doesn’t change the broader body of evidence linking pesticide exposure to childhood cancer and other serious health harms. Driscoll’s, the largest berry marketer in the world, has the resources to reduce its use of the most hazardous pesticides and should publicly show its progress, not debate cancer numbers, she writes.

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

The Department of Motor Vehicles is on track to share driver’s license and identification data with an outside network despite concerns from immigrant advocates that the information could expose people to deportation. 

The California Legislature authorized that sharing in the state budget it passed on Monday, along with a separate transportation measure that laid out some special oversight procedures to protect the data. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the budget and is expected to approve the companion measure, which his administration negotiated with lawmakers.

Lawmakers earlier had refused to approve the data-sharing plan until protections were put in place late last week. 

The stakes are high for the more than 1 million immigrants who have driver’s licenses. The system records the last five digits of a driver’s Social Security number and uses the placeholder “99999” for people without one. Advocates fear that feeding that information into a national database could expose undocumented Californians to federal immigration enforcement and told CalMatters in April that such a plan amounts to “a betrayal.”

Earlier this year, the governor’s office told CalMatters that reporting on the dispute amounted to “manufacturing fear and panic with lies.”

The new state budget includes $55 million, which the DMV will use to enable the sharing of California records with the State-to-State Verification Service and SPEX database run by the nonprofit American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). 

State officials have argued that the data sharing is needed to comply with the federal REAL ID Act, warning that if California does not participate, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security could refuse to accept state IDs at airports. They say the system can be queried for only one record at a time using information supplied by an applicant and that bulk searches are not possible. 

The new legislation includes additional measures to protect immigrants from the database being misused for federal immigration enforcement. They include asking the attorney general to sue the nonprofit that runs the national database or participating states if they do not stick to the terms of the data sharing; requiring annual public reporting on data requests and any unusual patterns in usage; and directing the DMV to write a monitoring plan, due in draft by February 2027 and in final form by July 2027. It also directs the state auditor to assess compliance with data sharing guardrails starting in 2030.

“The established safeguards limit the information shared to the minimum necessary,” said H.D. Palmer, spokesperson for Newsom’s Department of Finance.

But some advocates say the oversight protections do not go far enough. 

“The guardrails will not prevent federal or other state law enforcement from obtaining an order requiring [the state-to-state system] to retrieve and disclose data, including in bulk, and requiring [the system] not to disclose that fact,” said Ed Hasbrouck with the civil liberties group the Identity Project. 

Ronald Coleman Baeza, on behalf of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, thanked state lawmakers Monday for “ensuring there are guardrails” around the data sharing program but also urged lawmakers to require an audit before 2030.

“We are disappointed that Social Security numbers will continue to be shared, but we appreciate that there will be a monitoring plan, a stakeholder process in place, and also enforcement and an audit,” he said. “There’s definitely going to be more work to do to make sure that we do protect the information from Californians in the driver’s license database system.” 

Representatives of the ACLU Cal Action and California Immigrant Policy Center similarly thanked lawmakers for adopting additional protections but expressed concern about the potential impact on the lives of undocumented immigrants of sharing sensitive data with an out-of-state entity.

Sen. Laura Richardson is a Democrat from Inglewood who questioned the data-sharing plan earlier this year. In a Senate budget hearing Monday, she voiced support for the data protections in the transportation bill. She also urged the state auditor to evaluate data sharing activity before 2030 “given our vulnerability of having that data out there.”

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After winning its group in the opening round of the World Cup, the U.S. team brings that momentum to Levi’s Stadium for a win-or-go-home match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday afternoon.

Fourth of July weekend is typically one of the busiest times of the year in Santa Cruz County, and this year should be no different. Thousands are expected to flock to the city from around the Bay Area to tan on the beach, participate in the annual Sunrise Rotary Firecracker Run and watch the Fourth of July Parade in Seabright. 

However, those who plan to come to the city to watch fireworks or wave sparklers on the beach are flat out of luck. The county has among the strictest fireworks laws in the state, enforcing a total ban on all fireworks, including on all beaches.

Here is everything you need to know about the fireworks laws in the county to stay safe from fines and fires this Independence Day: 

Why are fireworks prohibited?

According to Chapter 7.92 of the Santa Cruz County Code, fireworks are prohibited because they can damage the environment, harm pets, cause fireworks-related injuries and spark wildfires. 

What areas of the county have to adhere to the ban?

All types of fireworks are prohibited on California State Parks beaches. All cities in the county must adhere to the fireworks ban, as do the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County such as Bonny Doon, Felton, Ben Lomond, Live Oak, Soquel, Aptos and Davenport, among others.

Capitola and Watsonville are the only cities in the county where any type of fireworks are allowed, in this case “safe and sane” fireworks. Watsonville will permit these fireworks from only July 1 through midnight on July 5, and according to the Capitola Police Department, Capitola will allow them only on private property.

A selection of “safe and sane” fireworks from a booth along Green Valley Road in Watsonville. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz What are “safe and sane” fireworks, and where can you purchase them? 

They are state-approved fireworks that do not explode or leave the ground. Some examples include fountains, sparklers and pinwheels. Starting Wednesday, July 1, TNT Fireworks stands and tents will pop up in Watsonville, selling only state fire marshal-approved safe and sane fireworks. Fireworks that do not have the state marshal’s seal of approval are illegal.

What are some ways to prevent injuries and fires while using “safe and sane” fireworks?

Never use fireworks near dry grass or other flammable materials, light one firework at a time, keep a bucket of water and a hose nearby and sweep up all debris afterward to help keep trash out of storm drains.

What fines could you get for fireworks violations?

Starting Friday, July 3, at 8 a.m., the Santa Cruz Police Department will enforce a citywide safety enhancement zone until 8 a.m. July 7. This means fines for violations of the city’s municipal code, including the illegal discharge of fireworks, will be tripled. This can add up to a ticket as expensive as $1,000, and a possible arrest.

If you witness the use of illegal fireworks, whom can you contact to report it?

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line is 831-471‐112; the Santa Cruz Police Department non-emergency line is 831-471-1131; Capitola PD non-emergency is 831-471-1141; Scotts Valley PD non-emergency is 831-440-5670, and Watsonville PD’s is 831-471-1151.

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Following weeks of negotiations, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders have agreed on a $351.7 billion budget next year that raises some taxes, sets aside $6.4 billion for the year after and softens or delays billions of dollars in planned social service cuts.

The budget, Newsom’s last, will leave the California budget balanced for two consecutive years and reduce future year deficits significantly, state leaders say. Lawmakers were poised to adopt the deal on Monday.

“This budget demonstrates responsible choices that protect our fiscal strength while continuing to invest in what matters most,” Newsom said in a statement.

The state faced a steep funding cliff in January amid ballooning costs of Medi-Cal, the state’s healthcare program for low-income Californians, and the threat of losing tens of billions of federal dollars under President Donald Trump’s budget bill. 

But since then, tax revenue has grown faster than expected, thanks to the artificial intelligence-driven economic boom. The final budget agreement largely relies on that windfall and new taxes Newsom has championed, along with delayed healthcare cuts and suspended payments to K-12 schools and state reserves to balance the books and slash future deficits. 

The Newsom-backed tax measures, which the Legislature approved earlier this month, will apply a sales tax to everyday computer software, cap business tax credits and raise the tax rate on commercial healthcare providers. 

The budget deal also requires the next governor to consider penalizing big corporations for having employees on Medi-Cal — an idea from Senate Democrats — unless Congress repeals Trump’s Medi-Cal cuts before then. Sen. María Elena Durazo, a Los Angeles Democrat and a member of the legislative Latino caucus, said the plan does not go far enough to discipline companies that pay low wages.

“Another cycle of large corporations paying nothing while their underpaid workers stay on Medi-Cal, and we foot the bill as taxpayers,” Durazo said during a Monday hearing. 

“This is a budget that bought time. Medi-Cal delayed, not resolved, not restored.”

While Newsom proposed deeper cuts in May, the final budget softens the blow and includes new spending. It delays most cuts to Medi-Cal services and preserves funding for in-home care for low-income Californians. It gives counties $900 million in homelessness funding, almost double the $500 million Newsom wanted. It also adds 22,700 state-funded child care spaces to address the need to care for children three and under.

Newsom and lawmakers couldn’t settle on a full spending plan for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, the state’s main source of cash for climate programs, punting negotiations to the summer. They did agree to tap the fund for electric vehicle incentives and to backfill the fire department budget.

The holdup is largely due to the new climate rules Newsom’s administration adopted in May, which could cut the fund in half, sparking a fight between Senate Democrats and Newsom over funding priorities.

Republicans blasted the budget deal, criticizing Democrats for passing policies through the budget process without much advance notice. The process allows state leaders to fast-track complicated policies instead of facing scrutiny in months of public hearings. 

“It’s an abuse of the process that we have unfortunately got all too accustomed with,” said Sen. Roger Niello, a Roseville Republican, on Monday.

Delaying most Medi-Cal cuts

The deal includes $300 million to subsidize private healthcare to lower costs for low- to middle-income Californians, a Newsom priority. The governor proposed it in May to erase premiums for lowest-income residents and reduce out-of-pocket costs for middle-class households. 

It also includes $250 million in grants to public hospitals and up to $140 million for those in “significant financial distress.” Several hospital advocates, including the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, had advocated for $500 million in funding as hospitals risk scaling back services or closing altogether due to the lost federal funds.

The state also agreed to give counties $200 million to more frequently verify low-income people’s eligibility to receive health and food benefits, which the Trump administration requires. But the budget deal leaves out $125 million the Legislature wanted to give counties to set up an indigent care system to care for those falling off of Medi-Cal. 

Counties urged state leaders to pursue an alternative before the legislative session ends in September. Otherwise, “counties will be forced to cut core services — threatening public safety, slashing behavioral health and public health services, and driving up homelessness,” according to a joint statement from the California State Association of Counties and other county associations. 

Newsom agreed to scrap his proposed cuts to the In-Home Supportive Services program, which provides in-home care to roughly 900,000 low-income Californians, after the Legislature’s opposition. 

They also agreed on a less restrictive Medi-Cal asset test for seniors and those with disabilities than Newsom proposed: In addition to the income tests, starting July 2027, individuals must own $21,000 in assets or less ($31,000 for couples) to qualify for Medi-Cal. The current ceiling is $130,000 for individuals and $195,000 for couples.

While Newsom wanted to increase the monthly premium for undocumented adults enrolled in Medi-Cal from $30 to $50, the final deal leaves the decision to the next governor.

The deal preserves immigrant healthcare by delaying many cuts: By January, the state will start transitioning roughly 2 million Medi-Cal enrollees — most of whom are undocumented immigrants — to a fee-for-service system by Jan. 1, 2027. 

The change will allow the state to continue receiving funding for Medi-Cal and save $470 million next year, but those immigrants will lose access to benefits such as case management, housing assistance and medically tailored meals.

Starting July 2027, the state will limit state-funded healthcare coverage for some refugees, asylees and human trafficking survivors, to emergency and pregnancy care only. The budget plan also delays other cuts, including dental benefits for undocumented Medi-Cal enrollees and clinic reimbursements for Medi-Cal services, until July 2027.

“While we are relieved this agreement spares immigrant communities from losing access to doctors, dentists and trusted community providers this year, our work is far from over,” said Kiran Savage-Sangwan, executive director of the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network.

Newsom gets wins school chiefs overhaul

The deal largely preserves Newsom’s May spending plan for K-12 education.

It increases special education funding by $2.4 billion and gives school districts and community colleges higher cost-of-living increases to provide 14 weeks of pregnancy leave for their employees, something teachers unions have championed for years. 

But the latest spending plan also withholds $3.9 billion in constitutionally guaranteed funding from K-12 schools, an accounting mechanism Newsom wanted to use in case the state overcommits with a revenue forecast that is too optimistic. If the state collects more tax revenue in the next year than projected, the budget deal requires the state to use a portion of that to pay down what it owes the schools. 

Disappointed education advocates criticized state leaders for shortchanging school districts. The California Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union, accused state leaders of violating the state Constitution and said it would consider suing. 

“At a time when both public schools and the voting rights of our communities face growing attacks from the federal government, California lawmakers should be standing up for our students and exercising the democratic principles that have made California the nation’s progressive leader,” CTA President David Goldberg said in a statement. 

The deal also allows Newsom to radically diminish the authority of the elected state superintendent of public instruction, shifting K-12 school governance to a new education commissioner appointed by the governor. Starting Jan. 15, 2027, the superintendent will become one of 13 members on the State Board of Education led by the commissioner.

Newsom proposed the idea in January to make education governance more coherent, gaining support from a wide array of education advocates. California is one of nine states that still elect a schools chief, whereas other states allow the governor to appoint them. 

The CTA, some senators and candidates running for superintendent were skeptical of the promised outcome and slammed Newsom for jamming the policy through the budget process, especially when voters in November are already set to vote for a superintendent whose duties will be significantly pared down.

California voters have rejected four ballot measures to abolish the superintendent role, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. 

“To me, it feels very deeply democratically cynical,” said Sen. Chris Cabaldon, a Napa Democrat, during a May hearing of the proposal. “That the voters four times before have said no to making these reforms. That we’re just gonna try to do it without them and leave in place the shell of what the constitution requires, in order to get around that.”

New EV incentive

While state lawmakers punted most of the climate money negotiations, they agreed with Newsom to allocate $1.25 billion in the greenhouse gas fund for the state’s fire department.

They also agreed to set aside $356 million for zero-emission or hybrid vehicle incentives, with $115 million coming from the climate fund. That includes $85 million over the next five years to help low-income Californians replace old gas-powered vehicles with cleaner ones.

A line of electric vehicles at a Hyundai dealership in Fresno. Credit: Larry Valenzuela / CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Roughly $135 million is reserved for electric trucks and buses. Another $135 million will help first-time buyers of new light-duty electric vehicles priced at $50,000 or less and used ones at $25,000 or less.

The deal allows the California Air Resources Board, the state’s climate regulator, to set the incentive amount. 

Lawmakers also agreed with Newsom to fund the state’s community air protection program established in 2017 to reduce the harm of air pollution, most of it from the state general fund.

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The post Newsom’s parting gift: A budget that delays California’s deep cuts to 2027 appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Civic partner content: A collaborative initiative amplifying nonprofits’ missions, expanding community engagement and driving meaningful impact. Learn more here.

At Lookout Santa Cruz, our Civic Partnerships are rooted in a shared commitment to community care. We’re proud to partner with the Santa Cruz SPCA, an organization that has spent decades supporting both pets and people across Santa Cruz County through rescue, adoption, education and outreach.

Since 1934, the Santa Cruz SPCA has served Santa Cruz County with the mission of caring for animals and the people who love them. As an independent nonprofit animal shelter and welfare organization, the SPCA relies entirely on community support, volunteers and donations to sustain its work, which touches thousands of lives across the county every year.

The SPCA is much more than a shelter. It provides pets and humans with a second chance and is a space of belonging and care through its many programs. Every day, the organization rescues and rehomes dogs and cats, helping connect animals with loving families through thoughtful adoption and fostering programs. Their team supports new pet owners with vaccinations, microchipping, spay and neuter services and medical care, ensuring pets and people can begin their new lives together with confidence and support.

Through humane education programs, classroom visits, camps and youth volunteering opportunities, the organization helps cultivate a new generation of compassionate animal guardians. Its senior outreach program ensures that older adults living on fixed incomes can continue experiencing the companionship of pets, with waived adoption fees and veterinary care assistance for senior pet owners.

And every Sunday, the SPCA’s pet food pantry distributes hundreds of pounds of dog and cat food to Santa Cruz County residents who need a helping hand – a reminder that caring for animals also means caring for the people behind them.

In many ways, the SPCA embodies something essential about Santa Cruz County: the belief that community care matters. That kindness matters. That every life has value.

Through this civic partnership, Lookout Santa Cruz is excited to help share the SPCA’s stories, amplify its mission and connect our readers to opportunities to volunteer, foster, adopt, donate and support the organization’s work. Together, we hope to celebrate the people and institutions building a more compassionate community for both animals and humans alike.

As a civic partner, the SPCA represents the kind of community-centered work we’re proud to spotlight at Lookout Santa Cruz: practical, compassionate and deeply rooted in service. We’re excited to work together to share their mission and help connect more residents to the many ways they can get involved.

The post Supporting pets, people and community: Santa Cruz SPCA joins Lookout’s Civic Partner program appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 11:32 a.m..

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

▼︎ new incidents   ▼︎ long-term incidents

Road incidents as of 11:30 a.m. on June 29

• There was a report of a fire with black smoke visible on the ocean side near Highway 1 and Wilder Ranch State Park in the Bonny Doon and Davenport area. The incident was reported today.
   
• A hit and run crash happened at the intersection of Soquel Ave. and Soquel Dr in the Eastside / Live Oak area. No one was hurt, but the reporting party’s car had damage to the rear bumper. The other car, a BMW, left before officers arrived. The incident was reported today.
   
• Highway 9 is facing closures in both directions at Pool Drive in San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closure will last until 5:59 a.m. on July 2.
   
• Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley has one-way traffic due to ongoing work. This closure will last until August 31 at 7:01 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.
   
• A lane on North Highway 9 at Two Bar Road in San Lorenzo Valley is closed for bridge work. The closure will last until July 2 at 6:01 a.m.
   
• Alternating lanes are closed on Highway 9 at Riverdale Park in San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closure will last until April 30 at 6:59 a.m.
   
• A lane on Highway 1 at Ocean Avenue in the Bonny Doon and Davenport area is closed for utility work. The closure is expected to end at 3:59 p.m. today.
   
• South Highway 1 is facing closures at Buena Vista Drive in Watsonville / Pajaro for drainage work. The closure is expected to end at 3:59 p.m. today.
   
• A lane is closed on eastbound and westbound SR-129 at Highway 1 in Watsonville and Pajaro for curb, gutter, and sidewalk work. The closure will end today at 2:59 p.m.
   
• A lane is closed on SR-129 at Salsipueda Creek Bridge in the Watsonville / Pajaro area for curb, gutter, and sidewalk work. The closure is expected to end at 2:59 p.m. today.
   
• A lane is closed on westbound SR-129 at the Walker St. railroad crossing in Watsonville/Pajaro because of utility work. The closure will end today at 3:30 p.m.
   
• Southbound Highway 17 in Scotts Valley is facing closures for asphalt paving. The closure will end at 6:01 a.m. today.
   
• One lane is closed on South Highway 9 at Graham Hill/Bennett St. in San Lorenzo Valley because of shoulder work. The closure will end at 3:59 p.m. today.
   
• Alternating lanes are closed on East and West SR-129 at Coolidge Avenue in Watsonville and Pajaro because of striping work. The closure is expected to end at 5:59 a.m. today.
   
• CHP helped with construction at 1100 Mm9 N Scr 11.00 in San Lorenzo Valley. The assistance was scheduled to last until 3:30 p.m. today.
   
• There is one-way traffic on SR-236 at Moon Drive in San Lorenzo Valley because of tree removal. This is expected to end at 1:30 p.m. today.
   
• A vehicle was parked with its wheels blocking the pedestrian and bike path at 23850 E Cliff Dr in Eastside / Live Oak, creating a traffic hazard. This was reported today.
   

Long-term projects

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

• A section of Coolidge Drive between High Street and Hagar Road will be closed to northbound traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day from today through July 1 to allow County crews to do pavement work.
   
• Soquel Drive between State Park Drive and Trout Gulch Road in Aptos will be closed on July 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the annual Aptos 4th of July Parade.
   
• Playa Boulevard will be closed between Palma Avenue and Benito Avenue in La Selva Beach on July 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for the annual La Selva Beach 4th of July Parade.
   
• Mill St. between Main St. and Highway 9 in Ben Lomond will be closed on July 4, August 1, September 5, and October 3 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day for scheduled events or activities. Emergency and local driveway access will still be available.
   
• Pine St. (between Hwy 236 and Harmon St.) and Lomond St. (between Pine St. and Railroad Ave.) in Boulder Creek will be closed for the Boulder Creek 4th of July Parade.
   

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 closures, fire near Hwy 1, hit and run appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that states can count ballots that arrive after Election Day, rejecting in a 5-4 decision a Republican-led attack on laws in more than half the states and the District of Columbia that permit mailed ballots to arrive and be counted some number of days after the election, provided they are postmarked by Election Day.

Dignity Health Medical Foundation’s decision to change its physician contracting structure has prompted more than a dozen doctors and advanced practice providers to work for other health systems. Patients say they’re concerned about healthcare access, while hospital officials say they’re recruiting new clinicians.

To pursue as many potential paths to a local funding source as possible, the Santa Cruz Metro board discussed moving to put a half-cent sales tax on the November ballot on its own accord, while Friends of Santa Cruz Metro continues its push to gather enough signatures for a citizens’ initiative ballot measure. If the board does decide to put a sales tax on the November ballot, it will require a two-thirds majority.