Quick Take New car sales in Santa Cruz County dropped more than 15% in the first nine months of 2026. Between steep prices, expensive loans and pricey gas, a lot of people are just keeping the cars they have. Dealers say used cars and hybrids are still se... See more
Lea este artículo en español aquí. More patients have been heading to the emergency room in San Benito County, driven by the lack of options and a growing population. ER visits have gone up every year since 2018, and 2025 was another record year with more... See more
Quick Take: Although the new 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act simplifies regulations and boosts tax credits, local officials say it won't provide immediate relief to Santa Cruz County's housing shortage. Instead, the bill’s benefits are expected to unfold... See more
Quick Take Santa Cruz County homeowners embraced backyard cottages after state and local reforms made accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, far easier to build, but that boom is already fading. Rising construction costs, high interest rates and other economi... See more
Quick Take The city of Santa Cruz has lost 1.3% of its population since 2024 and 3.7% since 2020, a Lookout analysis of the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau finds. The decline is part of a broader exodus from expensive places in California whe... See more
