Local News

Oliver Tree performs before a large crowd at Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco.

A Great Artist Lost

June 17, 2026

Santa Cruz native Oliver Tree Nickell, the musician, performance artist and internet star known for his fearless weirdness, global reach and deep local roots, is remembered by the community after his death in a Brazilian helicopter crash.

Guitar Power

Santa Cruz Guitar Company celebrates 50 years of custom acoustic guitars, sustainable craftsmanship and global influence with a new MAH exhibit honoring founder Richard Hoover and the luthiers behind the legendary local shop.

Stocker Shock: The Amazing Gifts of Gabrielle Stocker

The estate of Santa Cruz musician, singer and teacher Gabrielle Stocker has left transformative gifts to the local music community.

Pride Weekend’s Grand Marshalls

Santa Cruz Pride 2026 honors Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin, Dinah Phillips and Gail Groves, linking this year’s Grand Marshals to a landmark 2008 same-sex marriage.

Big Relief

Watsonville Community Hospital receives $10.6 million in state aid to help stabilize operations and preserve healthcare access in the Pajaro Valley.

Safe Battery Storage?

Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s bipartisan BESS Act would expand federal research and testing to improve battery energy storage safety.

An American Pickle

The Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival closes May 28 with “An American Pickle,” capping a 14-film series focused on Jewish culture, history, identity and connection across Santa Cruz County.

Running for Mayor

Santa Cruz voters will choose among Ryan Coonerty, Gillian Greensite, Chris Krohn, Ami Chen Mills and Joy Schendledecker in the June 2 mayoral primary, with a runoff possible if no candidate tops 50%.

Foot Traffic Jammed

Although appellate courts affirmed the public’s right to use the Rio del Mar beachfront walkway, access remains blocked as homeowners and Santa Cruz County return to court over enforcement and possible restrictions.

Funding Hope

A new community pledge campaign asks whether Santa Cruz locals could help buy or preserve the Catalyst, even as the historic venue’s building faces redevelopment into mixed-use housing.

Failure to File

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez has filed multiple campaign finance reports late as he seeks reelection in the 4th District race against Tony Nuñez and Elias Gonzales.

Music to Save Humanities

Santa Cruz band AZA brings its hypnotic blend of North African rhythms, Tamazight vocals and global influences to Woodhouse Blending & Brewing for a free concert supporting UCSC language studies.

Peace Pole

Watsonville High School’s Hope Club unveiled a Peace Pole reading “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in eight languages during a campus ceremony focused on unity, healing and hope.

A Great Artist Lost

Guitar Power

Solstice Symphonies

Getting to the Point

Letters

The Editor’s Desk

Open the Taps

Signature Ramen

A Great Artist Lost

Guitar Power

Stocker Shock: The Amazing Gifts of Gabrielle Stocker

Pride Weekend’s Grand Marshalls

Big Relief

Safe Battery Storage?

An American Pickle

Running for Mayor

Foot Traffic Jammed

Funding Hope

Failure to File

Music to Save Humanities

Peace Pole