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OpenAI ignored three warnings that a ChatGPT user was dangerous — including its own mass casualty flag — while he stalked and harassed his ex-girlfriend, a new lawsuit alleges.

SusHi Tech 2026 is zeroing in on four technology domains reshaping society: AI, Robotics, Resilience, and Entertainment. Expect live demos of humanoid robots, sessions on autonomous driving's software revolution, deep dives into cyber defense and climate tech, and candid conversations about how AI is rewriting the global music and anime industries.

One of the victims from an attack at the Clock Tower in Santa Cruz on March 21 has died, Santa Cruz Police announced Wednesday.

Justin Moore, 42, of Santa Cruz, suffered a stab wound during the attack.

The suspect, Robert David Worel, 32, has been charged with murder and one count of attempted murder.

Witnesses say the incident began after a verbal altercation between two people in line at Food Not Bombs, an organization that regularly gives out free meals to community members at the clock tower. 

Both of them began fighting and left the line, according to witnesses. One of them pulled out a knife. Several people tried to intervene and another person pulled out a larger kitchen knife. 

According to police, two people were wounded and rushed to local hospitals. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department at 831.420.5820 or submit an anonymous tip through the SCPD website.

Lawmakers must restore Workforce Quality Incentive Program

I started my career in a skilled nursing facility twenty years ago as a certified nursing assistant. Over time, I worked in admissions, earned my nursing license, became a nurse at the same facility my grandmother was a patient, and eventually advanced into my role as case manager. Through every step of that journey, one thing remained clear: skilled nursing facilities are lifelines for patients and families.

As a case manager at Watsonville Post Acute and Nursing Center, one of more than 1,000 skilled nursing facilities statewide, we care for people recovering from strokes and surgeries, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Many have nowhere else to turn for the round-the-clock medical care they need, and nearly all rely on Medi-Cal or Medicare.

Our team of nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, and physical, occupational, and speech therapists works together to develop personalized care plans for each patient’s unique needs.

And the care we provide goes beyond round-the-clock medical care. We celebrate holidays, and milestones with our patients, and support their families during moments of uncertainty. Over time, our patients become like family.

But delivering this high level of care is only possible with adequate funding—and today, California is failing skilled nursing patients and the workforce that cares for them.

In July 2025, the state budget cut the Workforce Quality Incentive Program (WQIP), eliminating $300 million in state and federal funding for skilled nursing facilities. These cuts eliminated critical resources that support recruiting staff, workforce training, and facility improvements.

As a nurse, upcoming state budget decisions are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they have consequences for my patients and the workforce that cares for them. Without adequate funding, skilled nursing facilities across the state risk staffing shortages, reduced patient services, and even closure. That means fewer care options when patients and families need them most, and longer, more expensive hospital stays.

As California faces a growing aging population, restoring WQIP in the 2026-27 state budget is not optional—it is essential.

Now, more than ever, Gov. Newsom and lawmakers must restore WQIP to ensure our most vulnerable Californians continue to have access to the critical skilled nursing care they need—when they need it most.

Nicole Peterson

LVN, Case Manager

Watsonville Post Acute and Nursing Center

•••

Response to Chavez scandal was knee-jerk reaction, points to wider plot

This whole Cesar Chávez deal is curious to say the least. A few weeks before this year’s Cesar Chavez holiday comes a New York Times story that Chavez, a half century ago, sexually abused several women members of his United Farmworkers Union, including the top woman figure of the movement Dolores Huerta. 

In a typical knee jerk reaction, city, county, state and federal officials moved in record time to remove the name of Cesar Chavez from any schools, streets, and institutions that Chavez had been named after. The news story rendered Chavez guilty, rendered Chavez an evil heathen, and voided Chavez’s name from the accomplishments of his union. Just like that, in the blink of an eye, an American icon has been erased from importance. A news story I read asserted the charges are “indefensible.” 

Well, duh, Cesar Chavez is not alive to defend himself. And defend himself from what? No criminal charges have ever been filed against him regarding the allegations. Also, what would motivate the 96-year-old Dolores Huerta to now bring to light these incidents? Why did it take over a half century? One local board member put in that in light of Chavez’s removal, a school should be renamed for Huerta. Is Dolores Huerta, this late in life, trying to steal Cesar’s thunder? Get her name put in the forefront of the farmworkers union, and history, and get a holiday in her name? I think Huerta is being manipulated, by some nefarious power. That power is pretty much obvious. The same power that created ICE and that is going after anything immigrant, or alien related. Their goal is to remove any ethnic heroes off America’s hero board. The same power that said Chavez is just like all those rapists that we are allowing into our country. But that power, who is a complete dufus, forgets that Chavez was a born and bred American, and a much older American than himself. 

For all our all knowing—and politically correct present leadership—how about removing the names of John F, Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy,  Martin Luther King, heck even FDR, and Thomas Jefferson, and many more, too many to mention, off all the schools, streets, buildings, airports and institutions that they are named after. For all those illustrious Americans abused women, committed adultery, committed immoral acts in office and out. Maybe the whole idea of naming things after such people should be put to pasture. 123rd street, and RRR school is just fine. 

Charles Birimisa

Watsonville

•••

Trujillo should pay attention to impacts of his remarks

Regarding the recent racial incident caused by Trustee Steve Trujillo’s insensitive actions against African Americans in the Board meetings of Cabrillo College, I think that he did not pay enough attention to the negative impacts caused by his actions while he tried to defend his actions by saying that he did not have any harmful intentions. I am saying this as a person who took training about racial issues. Cabrillo College is a public community educational institution. I do not know what action the Board might have taken in this case, but I believe that he is required to pay deep attention to the negative impacts caused by his insensitive actions as an elected official, a Trustee, who has represented Trustee Area 7.

Takashi Mizuno 

Watsonville

•••

Rail a necessity in times of war

As the Iranian war continues and oil is held hostage with the closure of the Strait, as gas prices creep ever higher, our RTC and certain elements in our County continue to berate the possibility of rail. I find this unconscionable.  

All of us are hurt by the increase in crude oil prices. Gas and diesel have already risen 40% in just a few weeks. The cost of propane has always increased along with gas and diesel. Food and beverages will increase in price as the cost of delivery increases. This will eventually affect the cost to charge an EV as the costs roil production and maintenance. Those on the lower-income tier may find it harder and harder to fill their tanks to get to work or school, eventually costing us in intangible ways.

Currently the only method of delivery into our county is by a paved road. Rail, a very cost effective method of transportation, is unavailable; and if the RTC and the anti-rail elements have their way, it never will be.  

Freight and passenger rail could and should be a reality that Santa Cruz County moves toward as a viable alternative to less asphalt and traffic congestion.

Vicki Miller

Santa Cruz

This week, I stood before the California State Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health not only as the CEO of Dientes Community Dental Care, but as a voice for our 18,000 patients in Santa Cruz County—who rely on Medi-Cal for essential dental care. 

My message was clear: reject the Governor’s proposed cuts to Medi-Cal dental benefits. The consequences of repeating past mistakes are too great.

I am grateful to Assemblymember Dawn Addis, Committee Member Mia Bonta and Speaker Rivas for their continued support of oral health care for California’s most vulnerable communities. Their leadership reflects what is truly at stake: not just a budget decision, but the health and dignity of millions.

At Dientes, we have seen what is possible when California invests in comprehensive care. When I began leading the organization in 2004, we served fewer than 7,000 patients, most receiving only minimal care—perhaps a cleaning or a filling. Today, thanks to the Affordable Care Act and Medi-Cal expansion, we serve 18,000 patients annually. They receive life-changing—and often life-saving—care: root canals that stop infections, dentures that restore the ability to eat, and prenatal dental care that protects both mother and child. This is what a functioning safety net looks like.

Now, that progress is at risk.

The Governor’s proposal would eliminate full-scope adult dental benefits for certain Medi-Cal enrollees based on immigration status and cut Proposition 56 supplemental payments that sustain dental providers. While framed as a $2 billion savings, these cuts would in reality shift costs elsewhere—onto hospital emergency rooms and communities already under strain.

We know this because we have seen it before.

In 2009, California eliminated adult Medi-Cal dental benefits. The results were immediate and severe. Preventive care disappeared. Patients delayed treatment until pain became unbearable. Dental infections escalated into medical emergencies. Emergency departments—already stretched thin—became the default providers for preventable dental conditions. This was not cost savings; it was cost deferral, and at a much higher price.

Today, we risk repeating that same pattern. A 2025 analysis from the American Dental Association projects a $400 million loss over five years from eliminating benefits to the 1.5 million undocumented Californians on Medi-Cal, due to increased emergency visits, higher medical costs from untreated disease, and job losses in the healthcare sector. These cuts will not save money—they will move costs into more expensive and less effective parts of the system.

At the same time, reducing Proposition 56 funding threatens to unravel the already fragile provider network that serves Medi-Cal patients. Even now, access is limited: only one in three adults in our community can find a dentist who accepts Medi-Cal. Further reductions will push providers out of the system. Some large dental providers, like Western Dental, are already considering clinic closures. For many families, that would mean losing access to care altogether.

Dental care is not optional—it is essential health care.

Untreated oral disease worsens chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, complicates pregnancies, and leads to avoidable pain and suffering. These impacts do not stay confined to the mouth; they ripple across the entire healthcare system, increasing costs for everyone.

We should be expanding access to care, not retreating from it.

I urge the Legislature to reject these cuts, protect adult Medi-Cal dental benefits, and preserve Proposition 56 funding. At a minimum, a one-year delay—made possible by stronger-than-expected state revenues—would give patients and providers critical time to prepare and avoid immediate harm.

California has already learned this lesson the hard way. We cannot afford to learn it again.

The choice before us is clear: invest in prevention and dignity or pay far more for crisis and neglect. For the health of our communities and the strength of our safety net, I urge lawmakers to choose wisely.

Laura Marcus is the CEO of Dientes Community Dental Care and a fierce advocate of oral health for all.

Work moves forward on the new Costa Vista Student Housing project at Cabrillo College in Aptos. The $181 million development will be the first student housing collaboration between a California community college and the University of California. The 257,000 square-foot project will span three buildings, with 60% of the beds designated for Cabrillo College students and 40% of the beds for UCSC students.

Were you aware that for the last several years, the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups you’ve eaten didn’t actually have real chocolate in them? We sure had no idea. Yes, that sounds absurd, but it’s apparently true. The reason we know is because Barry Reese, the grandson of Reese’s founder, recently wrote a very critical open letter to Todd Scott of the Hershey company. And that letter made the rounds. We learned about this via Food Beast. Barry Reese openly accused Hershey of changing Reese’s proprietary milk chocolate recipe, and making this change without letting customers know. As a result of this public calling-out, Hershey is going back to real milk chocolate soon. Well, more like “soonish.”Hershey

In his scathing letter to the company, Barry Reese said: “Reese’s identity is being rewritten, not by storytellers, but by formulation decisions that replace Milk Chocolate with compound coatings and Peanut Butter with peanut-butter-style crèmes across multiple Reese’s products.” We’re not sure how the makers of chocolate goodies count as storytellers, but hey, we’ll go with it. Alongside the Peanut Butter Cups, Reese’s has apparently replaced real milk chocolate in their Take 5, Reese’s Fast Break, White Reese’s, Mr. Goodbar, and Reese’s Mini Hearts offerings. It appears that Reese’s Pieces was immune to this change. So you can tell E.T. to relax.

Perhaps because of this public humiliation, starting in 2027, Hershey plans to bring real milk chocolate back to its products. At least a small portion of them, anyway. The company says they will start reverting only about 3% of Reese’s products for starters. So chances are, even with the real milk chocolate back, it’ll be a long time before you taste it again. In a statement, the company said, “Hershey remains committed to making products consumers love, and that means continually reviewing our recipes to meet evolving tastes and preferences. A series of enhancements taking effect in 2027 reflects that commitment.” Maybe next year, you’ll be one of the lucky 3% who get real chocolate in their Peanut Butter Cups.

The post Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Will Use Real Chocolate Again appeared first on Nerdist.

Questions on the human and environmental effects from the Moss Landing Battery Plant fire on the Jan. 17, 2025 are still being explored. 

The March 17 Monterey County Board of Supervisors’ meeting contained an update on the progress of the cleanup, what some of the scientists are investigating and what they are discovering. There were four presentations that were followed by questions and comments. 

The first two were by the California Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC). One was on the human risk and the second on was on the ecological risk. The final two presentations were by community groups, the Estuary Monitoring of Battery Emissions and Residues (EMBER), and Never Again Moss Landing (NAML). 

First, the county provided an update on the Moss 300 Recovery site. It is one of the three battery systems at the site, and is operated by the Vistra Energy Corporation, but owned by PG&E. It was the one that was mostly destroyed in the Jan. 17, 2025 fire.  

It is in phase one of the cleanup and recovery effort, with 23,800 out of 35,772 lithium-ion battery units—about two-thirds—having been de-energized, removed and sent to an  out-of-state recycling facility. 

Phase two of the recovery is expected to begin in the middle of 2026, with “more extraction and removal,” officials said. 

There had been some discussion of restarting Moss 100, a second site where 256 Tesla power units had provided power before Jan. 17 fire. 

Those units had caught fire on Sept. 20, 2022. According to Dave Gabard from PG&E; the vent shield in a megapack was incorrectly installed, causing thermal runaway from a water leak. It turned out that 88 other megapacks needed to be repaired. Tesla has since modified the units and the alarms. The board declined to restart Moss 100 at this time.

Thermal runaway at a battery plant is a fast-moving chain reaction inside lithium-ion cells that can’t be contained once it starts. Internal temperatures can spike past 572 degrees Fahrenheit in milliseconds. The reaction begins when heat builds faster than it can be released, triggering gas buildup, toxic smoke, fire and, in some cases, explosions.

Hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide were released in the smoke of the Vistra fire, scientists said. Catch basins collected the water so it did not go into the sloughs or bay. The system was shut down, Hwy. 1 was closed for 12 hours and a “shelter in place order” was issued by county officials. 

Weiying Jiang and Michael Garland, staff toxicologists from the Department of Toxic Substances Control, presented preliminary findings that found that to date there were no strong human health or ecological risks from chronic exposure. Although toxic metals associated with battery construction were found, they determined that the amounts they found were either naturally occurring or not in amounts to put humans or the environment in future danger. 

They noted a February 2025 report from California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) of a decline in the mosquito population after the fire in the area surrounding the Moss 300. They also referenced in that report the finding of 6-inch pieces of what appeared to be fire debris in Hester Marsh. Soon after, those pieces disappeared with the rains. Because DTSC did not start their investigation until eight months after the fire, that debris was not available to investigate. They emphasized that the results are still under review.

Estuary Monitoring of Battery Emissions and Residues (EMBER)—a group of scientists associated with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories—gave the next presentation. They represent Elkhorn Slough Foundation, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Amah Mutsun Land Trust. 

Kerstin Wasson,who spoke for the group, said that EMBER already had data on many parts of the slough going back years, and jumped into action soon after the Jan. 17 fire. 

That data includes metals measured in Hester Slough in 2023, which served as a baseline for after the fire. 

The large 6-inch pieces of fire debris referenced by the DTSC toxicologists were collected and analyzed, and found to be “pure cathide battery metals.” 

Since many of the pieces dissolved in the rain, it is likely that those metals are in the slough, researchers said.

The pieces were preserved, and are currently available for examination. 

The ash layer on the soil was very thin at 1 to 5 millimeters. When analyzed shortly after the fire, the concentration of nickel was ten times the 2023 measurement. The DTSC sample, which was done 8 months later, measured 3 inches deep in the soil, so the concentration would have been diluted. 

Through their analyses, they concluded that highly concentrated metals of nickel, cobalt and manganese found in thin patchy layers in Elkhorn marshes matched the proportions of metals and particle morphology of batteries. 

The rapid redistribution of the metals from the fallout from rains and tides flowed into the estuarine ecosystem. They did not disappear. 

The team also found cobalt and nickel in collected species of mollusks, crustaceans, fish, plants and algae. 

There is a 10-year study of mussels, but when they were tested after the fire, no evidence of battery metals were found. 

EMBER noted that bioaccumulation can be a slow process, so researchers said there needs to be more research.

EMBER’s main theme was that it is essential to conduct soil samples and take samples of organisms right after the fire to best determine the ecological impacts .

That needs to be followed by long-term sampling to determine if the metals have affected the environment through bioaccumulation. 

Never Again Moss Landing (NAML) gave a thorough report on their findings and their continued activities. That group received results from the hair samples collected earlier in the year from community members. 

NAML’s website contains information with ways to receive emails and to donate. 

Greg Bishop from Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board reported on concerns about the dangers in the runoff after the fire. 

His group is looking to work with Vistra on what’s in the sediment and where it goes. The Moss Landing Harbor gets dredged periodically, and runoff also goes into the sloughs as demonstrated by EMBER’s study on Hester Marsh.

Supervisor Glenn Church, whose district includes the power plant and has been proactive in keeping this issue alive, worried about the danger of continued bio-accumulation over time. 

Speakers from industries such as fishing, farming and tourism, as well as residents, also expressed concern during public comments. One speaker was concerned about Vistra paying for the DTSC’s reports that ended up finding no health or environment risks in their preliminary findings.

The board seemed receptive to the reports and comments, including that the reports should be shared and considered collectively.

A countywide celebration of visual and performing arts is set to run April 16–26. The Ripple Effect Santa Cruz County Arts Festival is the County’s effort to highlight the creative community during California’s Arts, Culture and Creativity Month. 

Organizers said the event brings together local artists, cultural organizations, and venues to showcase a broad range of artistic disciplines, including visual arts, music, dance, theater, poetry, fashion, and interactive workshops.

The festival opens with “Santa Cruz Dancing in the Streets” from 5–9pm in downtown Santa Cruz and concludes with a grand finale at The Grove near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk from 4–9pm. Events include exhibitions, performances, pop-ups, and hands-on workshops across multiple venues throughout the county. While some activities are free, others, such as the finale, require tickets. 

Each venue manages its own events and ticketing, and parking options vary by location. 

The grassroots, volunteer-driven festival aims to strengthen the local arts community and economy, organizers said.
Watsonville events include various shows, performances by Esperanza del Valle, Ballet Folklorico Dance Company; “Many Truths, One World: Mariposa Arts Showcase & Artwork” by Claraty Arts at Watsonville Center for the Arts; the ongoing PV Arts exhibit, “Hot off the Walls: Art to Go!,” recent paintings by Annie Morhauser at Annieglass; and the Guelaguetza Festival on April 26.

For information, visit rippleartsfestsantacruz.org.

Trade group warns onshoring demands will leave Americans stuck with older gear

The Global Electronics Association (GEA) warns that the US ban on foreign-made network routers is impractical because few are made domestically, leaving consumers with little choice and delaying access to next-gen products, just as Wi-Fi 7 adoption should be ramping up.…

This interview contains major spoilers for The Boys‘ season five premiere. If you’re still avoiding them until you see the episode, you can instead head over to our non-spoiler review of the show’s stellar final season. If not, join us as we dive into the potential deaths on The Boys season five and how they might go down.

The Boys‘ began its final show with a bang. Or, rather, a “crack.” That’s roughly the sound we heard when Homelander snapped A-Train’s neck. The famous Supe’s demise was a shocking moment, an early goodbye to one of the show’s most important characters. But while Jessie T. Usher told us he loved his character’s ending, it also seemed to set the tone for what fans can expect from the series’ last year. If A-Train can die in the first episode, anyone can die at any point, right? That’s exactly what we can expect according to showrunner Eric Kripke. He told us more major deaths are coming in The Boys season five and they’ll be happening “throughout” the season.

Prime Video

During our interview with Kripke the day before The Boys‘ season five premiere, we asked about having to inform Usher about his character’s fate. We wanted to know if it helped the showrunner prepare for when he said goodbye to his entire cast and crew. It didn’t! Nor did it help when he had to do that with others, as his answer made clear A-Train won’t be the only big death that happens on the way to the series finale. There will be major deaths throughout season five of The Boys. Here’s what Kripke told us:

It’s a really hard phone call to say, “Your number’s up in the first episode.” And without spoiling too much, that was not the only time that season I had to make that call. And it was hard every single time, like, “Sorry, you’re not making it to the end of the season. You’re going to pack up and leave Toronto.” It’s like telling people they’re on Survivor. It was not fun because you create such a relationship and bond with these people. They genuinely become your family that it’s hard to tell them that their role is over.

Prime Video

It was inevitable that The Boys final season would feature some major deaths. But many/most major characters from the first episode made it this far. It wasn’t unreasonable to think most of them would also make it to the series finale…before dying. Instead, they’ll get voted off the proverbial island along the way to the final Supe council.

There the question will be whether anyone will survive this Survivor-like season.

The post THE BOYS’ Eric Kripke Says There Will Be Major Deaths Throughout Season 5 appeared first on Nerdist.

On a recent road trip to Atascadero, a city that lies about 115 miles south of Watsonville, my wife Sarah and I took umpteen diversions off the main highway to gather a better sense of the Salinas Valley and surroundings.

Heading out San Miguel Canyon Road, we caught Hwy. 101 south through Salinas and took our first exit through the tiny town of Chualar. 

The diversion paid off right away when we spotted a massive outdoor mural on the walls on Chaluar Market depicting the Braceros program. Bracero is Spanish for laborer. In the 1960s, the program brought around 5 million Mexicans to the U.S. agricultural industry. On Sept. 17, 1963, a train crashed with a truck carrying about 50 laborers, killing 32 of them in Chualar, as referenced in the mural.

A string of older shops run along downtown Gonzales.(Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

We were surprised to see a grand entrance to the town of Gonzales, a large green metal archway welcoming people to the small downtown area. Near the Post Office we spotted a group of about 10 men spread out on city benches. I waved to one of them and, as if by cue, every one of them swung around and offered us a hearty wave in return. On the Main Street in Gonzales we passed a number of small shops, many that wore the sign of a lot of years. 

As we passed through Gonzales we noticed the Lucky Bamboo Chinese Cuisine restaurant, couched in the corner of an early-day building beside a drug store with an old neon Rexall Drug sign hanging above its entrance.

Staying on the back roads, we wandered past scads of old barns, windmills and water tanks. We spotted the simple architecture of the 1935 San Bernardo Grange 50G. 

Oil rigs at the Ardo Oil Field, 20 miles north of Paso Robles keep the crude flowing from the ground. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

In a quiet neighborhood near Bradley we rolled past an older home whose large side yard was crowded with older model pickup trucks, most of them rusting and draped in dust and spider webs.

Near Bradley we came upon the Ardo Oil Field about 20 miles north of Paso Robles. 

According to Chevron, the large oil field is the eighth-largest producing oil field in California, and in 2021 produced approximately 7,000 barrels of oil per day.

It was here along the railroad tracks we spotted a red-tailed hawk standing on the metal rails as if posing for western style painting. Then an osprey cruised into the scene, its large wings holding on to the drift of wind.

Birding has long been a part of our travels. My mom was an advanced birder, and she always intoned the notion that it’s a hobby that can follow you wherever you go. She said you don’t have to be on a miles long rugged mountain rail to see birds, noting that she’s spotted amazing hummingbirds in a shopping center parking lot in Arizona, and a peregrine falcon in downtown San Diego.

We got off of Highway 101 in Atascadero and, by arrangement, we headed to the Carlton Hotel in the downtown area for the night. According to the brass plaque on the hotel it was built in 1928 as a single story building. Then, a 52-room hotel on the second floor, called the Annex, opened its doors at a gala event on Nov. 28, 1929. Our room was comfortable, tidy and spacious with a great view of the downtown strip.

In the second half of this story we meet our friends, Brett and Lucia, former teachers in the Pajaro Valley, for dinner in Paso Robles and take in the colors of the downtown corridor.

The Watsonville City Council voted in December to allow workers to clear a homeless encampment on Airport Boulevard and to bill the property owner approximately $300,000 in cleanup costs — $150,000 already spent and another $150,000 estimated for further work.

But the encampment remains, home to several dozen people who have erected makeshift shelters, pitched tents and driven vehicles onto the property.

Now, after reportedly ignoring the city’s requests to address the encampment, the property owner — Fremont-based KDS Dhaliwal Investments — has agreed to conduct the cleanup, Watsonville city spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said.

“He has agreed to do the cleanup, so he is going to do the outreach and seek out the resources,” she said.

The timeline remains unclear, though Pulido estimated the process could take a few weeks.

The City Council declared the parcel a public nuisance on Nov. 18, 2025.

The 2.75-acre wooded property along Corralitos Creek, across from the Freedom Centre shopping plaza, has been the focus of ongoing complaints and enforcement efforts. The site — identified as parcel 014-021-01 and lacking a formal street address — is home to as many as 40 people, according to city officials.

Over the past several years, neighbors and officials have raised concerns about accumulating garbage, makeshift shelters and vehicles leaking fluids onto the ground. City staff say activity at the encampment — including bathing, washing clothes and the discharge of bodily waste — has contributed to contamination of the creek.

Watsonville Senior Code Enforcement Officer Ruben Vargas previously described the situation as “untenable” and in need of abatement. Officials also report widespread alcohol and drug use at the site, with used needles found among the debris.

KDS Vice President of Operations Karam Singh has said the company delayed enforcing trespassing rules amid a dispute with the city over development plans for the site, which have included a car wash or retail use. Singh said the company intends to install fencing after the cleanup is completed.

City Attorney Samantha Zutler said the city will place a lien on the property if cleanup costs are not reimbursed.

Several people living at the encampment attended a recent City Council meeting, urging officials to pair any enforcement action with housing assistance. Residents said promises of services made during a previous sweep were never fulfilled. Many of those living at the site face mental health and substance use challenges, according to officials and advocates.

Santa Cruz County residents are being encouraged to apply for the next Civil Grand Jury, a volunteer watchdog panel that investigates local government operations and issues public reports aimed at improving transparency and accountability.

The 2026–27 term begins July 1, with the Superior Court expected to begin reviewing applications and interviewing candidates in the coming months, according to a statement from Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Katherin Hansen, who oversees the county’s civil grand jury.

Each of California’s 58 counties is required to impanel a civil grand jury annually—the only state in the nation with such a system. Unlike criminal grand juries, the civil panel operates as an independent investigative body, reviewing local agencies, programs and policies. Its work is conducted confidentially, but findings and recommendations are released in public reports.

In Santa Cruz County, the panel typically includes 19 members and 11 alternates who serve one-year terms and contribute about 20 hours per week, depending on the scope of investigations.

“It’s an incredible sense of reward and satisfaction when you’re done,” said Santa Cruz resident Kim Horowitz, who served as foreperson during the 2023–24 term and returned as a juror the following year. “Being a grand juror is the one way that just kind of an ordinary citizen can do something that has a real impact on local government and how it operates.”

In addition, Horowitz said she made the connections she sought after retirement.

“You’ve made lifelong friends in the process,” she said. “There’s a group of us ladies that get together every week. So you definitely keep in touch with people. You have a real kind of bond that’s formed.”

The commitment can be substantial. Jurors often spend months examining complex issues ranging from jail operations to building permitting and how the county allocates voter-approved tax revenue.

“The number of hours that a juror spends depends on how many investigations they want to get involved in,” Horowitz said, adding that some participants underestimate the workload and leave before completing the term.

“They should go in with their eyes open,” she said. “It is a lot of work. It’s a big commitment.”

Still, Horowitz said the experience offers both civic impact and personal connection.

“You just feel a real sense of accomplishment and reward,” she said. “In addition to the fact that you’ve made lifelong friends in the process.”

Recent grand juries have tackled a wide range of topics. During the 2024–25 term, investigations included climate action efforts, the county’s building permit process, human trafficking and operations within the Health Services Agency. The previous year’s panel examined county road conditions, jail healthcare and reentry services, child protective services and housing policy in the city of Santa Cruz.

The Civil Grand Jury completed nine reports in Horowitz’s first year and six in the following term.

While agencies are required to formally respond to grand jury findings, they are not obligated to implement recommendations. That can be frustrating, Horowitz said, but public scrutiny often prompts change, because the reports go to the Board of Supervisors and the media.

This often results in the “grand jury effect,” when departments begin making improvements even before investigations are complete.

Hansen said the panel plays a key role in local governance.

“The purpose of the civil grand jury is to strengthen local government through careful oversight, investigations, and thoughtful recommendations,” she said in the statement.

Officials are seeking applicants who are collaborative, community-minded and interested in public service. No prior experience is required.

Information and application materials are available at bit.ly/4mbgQdT. Questions can be directed to hr****@************rt.org.

A worker monitors the bottling process of apple juice at S. Martinelli & Co. in Watsonville on March 23, 1954.

Being a Spider-Man fan is interesting. It’s a fandom that’s been gifted with a near limitless supply of stories and maximum job security. There are better chances that the NBA’s popularity falls off before Spidey’s popularity wanes. But it is a fandom that’s hardly bereft of frustrations. And after the first trailer for the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, those frustrations reverberate in a way that makes you feel remarkably indifferent to the whole thing. 

The movie doesn’t look like a mess or anything in a Madame Web way. And there’s no reason to believe it will be. So what the heck am I complaining about, then? Well, it’s not that the character has been in bad stories lately, per se, but rather exceptionally fine ones. That sentiment applies for movies, video games, and especially comic books. There’s just something missing.

Marvel Comics/J. Michael Straczynski/John Romita Jr./Scott Hanna/
Dan Kemp

Spider-Man, as a character, has near limitless potential for stories given his everyman ethos and relatability. But back in April 2001, J. Michael Straczynski, a writer and a man who one can only assume was sent by heaven itself, showed exactly the kind of ceiling the character had by doing something many modern Spider-Man stories seemingly refuse to allow: Peter Parker growing up.

Straczynski’s run on the character began in earnest back with The Amazing Spider-Man #30 and lasted all the way until 2007. It remains a classic to this day, mostly because it allowed the character to evolve. Doing so involved some major decisions, with one of the headliners of his run being the remarriage of Peter and Mary Jane Watson who had been separated for…reasons I don’t have time to explain. (I also don’t feel like doing that, because explaining dumb things makes you more dumb according to Science.) They’re an iconic fictional couple for a reason. Mary Jane and Peter play off each other’s lives perfectly, they’re relatable, and endlessly adorable.

Marvel Comics/J. Michael Straczynski/John Romita Jr./Scott Hanna/
Dan Kemp

There’s a sense for people that, somehow, having some semblance of your life being put together makes your story less engaging. Being married would make Peter’s story less exciting because famously being happily in love is boring. As we’ve seen from Clark Kent and Louis Lane being canonically married for 600 years, it’s impossible to craft stories around married superheroes. 

But it’s not just that which sets the table for this more grown up Spider-Man. Yes, the relationship is handled brilliantly by Straczynski—especially since it has the adage of the re-connection between Peter and MJ that’s given plenty of time, too —and written with a warmth that would make Nora Ephron proud. But we also learn what Peter’s new profession is. Professor Parker is another aspect of Straczynski’s run that’s equally as important, if not more. It allows the character to truly evolve past his days of simply making ends meet. Peter’s new gig as the science teacher at his old school gives him a new purpose. 

Spider-Man has always been about helping people, especially the Little Guy. So, there’s no better next step for the nerdy science aficionado than to literally guide along the next generation of individuals that are literally little guys: students. Even Peter can see the writing on the wall. The modern world isn’t one that’s been especially conducive for our children to thrive in, noting in Amazing Spider-Man #32 that “So much of their innocence is gone. The sense of wonder is gone. Their road is harder.” It’s a sentiment that, unfortunately, grows truer by the day.

Marvel Comics/J. Michael Straczynski/John Romita Jr./Scott Hanna/
Dan Kemp

And Straczynski doesn’t have Peter be a teacher just to gobble up time before he’s donning the costume and giving the ole’ “Bam, Smack, Kapow” to whatever dangerously fantastical foe is putting the city in danger. Instead, it’s the focal point of what he’s trying to do. Many of the story arcs during Straczynski’s run focus on them, and hence comes much of the depth that many modern Spider-Man stories lack. They’re grounded in a completely different way.

There’s Jennifer, a student with oodles of potential that’s being squandered by being forced to live on the street and worrying about her drug-addled older brother. It cedes room for Peter to, as part of his classic attribute of finding ways to blame himself, question why he hasn’t noticed all the people who are going through such horrible situations. He didn’t see this despite quite literally swinging by these places throughout the city time and time again. Instead, he was too busy dealing with crazy supervillains to remember the regular trials and tribulations that society is plagued with. 

There’s also someone like Melissa, who has all the smarts in the world. On top of her and her single mom having to deal with a scummy landlord (I realize “scummy” and “landlord” might be an oxymoron for some), she has to live without her beloved older brother, whom Spider-Man threw in jail. It gives Peter some much needed introspection, a fresh critique of superheroes as a general principle. This situation examines how heroes can sometimes misdirect their ire towards lower levels of crime, rather than the systems that elicit such behaviour in the first place.

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It’s not that all modern Spider-Man stories are bereft of serious moments. But oftentimes, when they do have them, it feels like their idea of serious is a “Just Make Him Miserable and Depressed” easy button. And it doesn’t feel like they’re trying to say anything. Straczynski didn’t have interest in doing that. In one of the first subplots told featuring a school shooting, it feels like a tone-setter for the entire series. It says “Yeah, we’re here, and we’re going for it.” 

Straczynski’s run acts as an antidote, of sorts, to the far less interesting “Haha! I conquer! I destory! I’m bad guy!” sort of narrative that feels more like generating hype moments and fodder for power-scaling conversations than telling a good, character-driven story. For a good portion of its run, it is almost allergic to the idea of having blockbuster-esque setpieces. He’s the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man after all, so why not act like it? 

Sometimes there will be a slice-of-life storyline, with nary a single textbox, showing how Mary Jane goes about her day as a fulltime model. Or, there’s Aunt May writing complaints to the Daily Bugle about their one-sided Spider-Man coverage. Other times, Spider-Man will just…meet a simple tailor, who helps out both the good and bad guys. This level of groundedness makes the world feel truly lived in. You’re part of the neighborhood, meeting all sorts of people with their own stories. 

But all this isn’t to say that Straczynski’s Spider-Man run is completely bereft of any goofiness. In fact, it’s often even more so than most you’ll come across in any medium. There’s a real strong voice for Peter here that’s both witty and down-to-Earth in the best way. It’s unfairly funny, really, because you think of how often modern superheroes rely so heavily upon the “Wow, isn’t it CRAZY what just happened?” type of self-referential humor.

Marvel Comics/J. Michael Straczynski/John Romita Jr./Scott Hanna/
Dan Kemp

He’ll interact with random New Yorkers, powerful political figures, and even literal gods like Loki, all with the same familiar cadence that a friendly neighbor would. It’s a comforting style of dialogue that Straczynski utilizes that’s never overbearing unless it absolutely has to be, saving expositional dumps for your Avengers-type arcs instead. It’s mind-boggling how talented of a writer someone can be. 

The word “unfair” might be, in some ways, the word that perfectly encapsulates the J. Michael Straczynski Spider-Man run. There’s one particular story that feels quite analogous to the frustration with the character I mentioned early on. Ezekiel, a mysterious, elderly businessman who happens to have the same powers as Peter, isn’t quite a bad guy, but rather someone who never bothered using his powers for anything other than himself. He turned away when people were in danger, enriched himself, and took the safe route. 

That’s what many modern Spider-Man stories are: safe. With rare exception (Spider-Verse, we love you, but for different reasons), Peter Parker isn’t given the chance to be more. I’m worried that Brand New Day might play it too safe. Whether you want to blame writing or the ever-evolving algorithmic and people-pleasing decision making determining how these giant properties go forward, or Disney, it’s all unfair. 

It’s unfair because you know it can be cleverer and funnier. It’s unfair because you know it can be more genuinely romantic. It’s unfair because you know it can have so much more to say than fan service and spectacle. It’s unfair because you know it can be so much more. It’s unfair to know J. Michael Straczynski’s run on the Amazing Spider-Man is out there, and everything else seems to fall just short of it. 

The post J. Michael Straczynski’s THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Run Remains Untouchable appeared first on Nerdist.

We are truly living in the golden era of feel good American TV shows about underdog European soccer clubs. Ted Lasso, which seemed to end with its third season, is returning to Apple TV later this summer with an all-new team. Next month will also mark the premiere of FX’s beloved reality series, Welcome to Wrexham. What awaits owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s gutsy club when the show returns on May 14? We’ll have to wait to find out. What we won’t have to wait for is learning how long the show will run. It’s getting at least three more seasons, as FX has already renewed Welcome to Wrexham through season eight.FX

The Emmy Award-winning docuseries Welcome to Wrexham will remain on the pitch for at least three more seasons, with FX expecting the show’s alreayd ordered eight season to debut sometime in 2029. A three-season order for any TV show is a big deal at this point in TV history. Clearly the network believes its popularity won’t wane anytime soon.

“A three-season order for a TV series is nearly unheard of and is only possible through the ground-breaking work of our Emmy-winning documentary team and the relentless rise of Wrexham AFC and all those working so hard to make sports history,” said Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds, Co-chairmen of Wrexham AFC, in a statement. “We are forever grateful to our equally fearless and tireless partners at FX for being with us every step of the way. We are so happy we get to keep telling the Wrexham story for years to come.”

FX

Also grateful? Fans of American soccer shows about English football clubs that make them feel good. There’s never been a better time for that. And with this lengthy renewal, that time won’t be ending anytime soon.

Welcome to Wrexham seasons 1-4 are now streaming on FX.

The post WELCOME TO WREXHAM Renewed For 3 More Seasons appeared first on Nerdist.

One of my favorite movie quotes ever is one I almost exclusively employ under the most ridiculous circumstances: “They should have sent a poet.” I’ve long mined Jodie Foster’s memorable line from the sci-fi drama Contact for comedic purposes. But today I want to use the way her character did, sincerely, because it best captures the absolutely stunning, awe-inspiring images Artemis II has sent back to Earth from its Moon flyby. Click To View Gallery NASA NASA NASA NASA NASA NASA NASA

NASA has shared the official photos the Artemis II crew took on its record-setting mission. Its journey around the Moon on April 6 brought the crew farther from Earth than any humans have ever gone. They also got to see something nobody else ever got to witness before, “a rare in-space solar eclipse.” That provided the opportunity to turn what would have been already amazing images from this moon mission into some of the most beautiful ever captured.

This batch of Artemis II moon images is easy enough for everyone to enjoy, but they’re also providing scientists with a treasure trove of information. The crew recorded: “impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface fractures that will help scientists study the Moon’s geologic evolution.” They also “monitored color, brightness, and texture differences across the terrain, observed an earthset and earthrise, and captured solar‑eclipse views of the Sun’s corona.” And they even saw “six meteoroid impact flashes on the darkened lunar surface.”

Not bad.

Click To View Gallery NASA NASA NASA NASA NASA NASA NASA

Artemis II’s astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen took the moon images. They employed what NASA calls “a fleet of cameras to take thousands of photos.” While more are expected to arrive, it’s hard to imagine them getting any better. (You can find even more of them here.)

“Our four Artemis II astronauts — Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy — took humanity on an incredible journey around the Moon and brought back images so exquisite and brimming with science, they will inspire generations to come,” said Dr. Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington, in a statement.

That’s a good quote, but you know what they really should have done? “They should have sent a poet.” And I mean that sincerely.

The post Artemis II Shares Stunning Moon Images appeared first on Nerdist.

France's move to ditch Windows for Linux is its latest effort to reduce its reliance on American tech giants.

The YouTube Premium individual plan is increasing from $13.99 to $15.99 per month, while the family plan is increasing from $22.99 to $26.99 per month.