Good morning Santa Cruz! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Memorial Day Ceremony - America: Their Sacrifice, Our Freedom and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: Why does a cow wear a bell ? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner Today's Santa Cruz Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's best mobile network in the US, according to Ookla Speedtest. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Santa Cruz Patch AM possible. Find a T-Mobile store near Santa Cruz.
Weather forecast:
1. This California beach town had one of the nation's largest population drops (sfchronicle.com) — Santa Cruz just logged one of the nation’s steepest recent population drops, with the city shrinking 1.3% between 2024 and 2025 and the wider county also losing residents. Local officials and researchers largely blame severe housing unaffordability, as data show low-wage jobs, sky-high rents, and long timelines to buy a home pushing people to leave.
2. Santa Cruz celebrates installation of AED at Lighthouse Point (santacruzsentinel.com) — A new 24/7 public defibrillator is now installed at Lighthouse Point in Santa Cruz, housed in a lit, alarmed SaveStation near the Surf Museum. Fire officials and the nonprofit Six Minutes to Live say it’s the first of several AEDs planned for spots like Santa Cruz Harbor and Capitola Beach. Residents are encouraged to call 911, start CPR, and use the device during emergencies.
3. UC Santa Cruz police investigate string of car burglaries on campus (ksbw.com) — UC Santa Cruz police are investigating six car break-ins reported Monday morning in parking lots near Heller and McLaughlin drives, where windows were smashed and belongings stolen. Officers urge drivers to lock vehicles, hide valuables while traveling, and remove them once home. Anyone with information is asked to call campus police at 831-459-2231, ext. 1.
4. Five county baseball teams make CCS playoffs (santacruzsentinel.com) — Santa Cruz County baseball fans have plenty to cheer about, with Soquel, Aptos, Harbor, Santa Cruz, and St. Francis all earning spots in the CCS playoffs and several local teams hosting quarterfinals Saturday. Harbor and Santa Cruz High will play home games, while Soquel and Aptos hit the road in higher divisions, giving local supporters multiple chances to follow deep postseason runs.
5. 8 Rescued From Cave Near Santa Cruz County Beach Amid Rising Water (patch.com) — Eight people were dramatically rescued Sunday evening after rising seawater trapped them in a cave near Davenport in Santa Cruz County, drawing a major response from local agencies and the city of Santa Cruz. Lifeguards helped five swimmers wade out, while a Coast Guard helicopter hoisted three non-swimmers to a nearby bluff, and no injuries were reported.
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Ok Santa Cruz! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Because its horns doesn't work! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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