SpaceX will try to put Starship in orbit for the first time on September 22
Santa Cruz County business filings: Week of Sept. 15
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- PNAC was registered at 585 W. Beach St., Watsonville, by Centennial Asphalt Company as a corporation on Aug. 31.
- STAGE LEFT SUPPLY COMPANY was registered at 170 Rewood Dr., Felton, by Mindwarp Entertainment Productions LLC as a limited liability company on Aug. 31.
- HZ FLOORS was registered at 530 14th Ave., Apt. B, Santa Cruz, by Humberto Zamora Ferrer as an individual business on Aug. 31.
- ZENIT RAM CAPITAL was registered at 129 Terry Loop, Watsonville, by Angel Rene Martinez as an individual business on Aug. 31.
- TIDALWOOD HOMES was registered at 111 Gail Dr., Felton, by Dylan Linde as an individual business on Aug. 31.
- EVA BALINT LEADERSHIP was registered at 1530 McLellan Rd., Felton, by Eva Balint, LLC as a limited liability company on Sept. 1.
- PUNK’S PLANT PROVISIONS was registered at 1955 Encina Dr., Live Oak, by Kenneth Mark Lawson as an individual business on Sept. 1.
- MOUNTAIN SUN CONSTRUCTION was registered at 961 Burl Rd., Santa Cruz, by Daniel Edward Thiel as an individual business on Sept. 1.
- ADDICTED WATERS GUIDE SERVICE was registered at 479 Park Dr., Ben Lomond, by Michael Eugene Dawson as an individual business on Sept. 2.
- MINDFUL HR SOLUTIONS was registered at 7909 Fremont Ave., Ben Lomond, by Rebecca Funder as an individual business on Sept. 2.
- THE CAN BUDDY was registered at 207 Spring St., Santa Cruz, by Matthew Peter Stelling as an individual business on Sept. 2.
- CYPRESS AND CO., CYPRESS READINESS was registered at 2113 Derby Ave., Capitola, by Considerate Concierge LLC as a limited liability company on Sept. 2.
- BLUE LAVA CAFE was registered at 2121 41st Ave., #107, Capitola, by Jamjuree LLC as a limited liability company on Sept. 3.
- JUMP START MATH was registered at 141 Via Trinita, Aptos, by Ann Marie Jump as an individual business on Sept. 3.
- FIR-MAP was registered at 6688 Bonny Doon Rd., Bonny Doon, by Mohsen Sondossi as an individual business on Sept. 3.
- AAA MINI STORAGE was registered at 20 Westgate Dr., Watsonville, by Pacific Shore Investment LLC as a limited liability company on Sept. 3.
- APPLETOS FARMS was registered at 1001 Valencia School Rd., Aptos, by Allen Aldridge as a business operated by a married couple on Sept. 3.
- LOCAL EYES HOME WATCH was registered at 1001 Valencia School Rd., Aptos, by Local Eyes Home Watch LLC as a limited liability company on Sept. 3.
- FINE LINE NOTARY & SIGNING was registered at 622 Coast Range Dr., Scotts Valley, by Helen Louise Youmans as an individual business on Sept. 3.
- CLICKAWAY was registered at 303 Potrero St., #105, #106, Santa Cruz, by Tpb Holdings Corporation as a corporation on Sept. 4.
- SYRUP CERAMICS was registered at 404 Centennial St., Santa Cruz, by Sara Passantino as an individual business on Sept. 4.
- ATHLETE AGAIN was registered at 201 Vista Dr., La Selva Beach, by Jd Morgan Consulting LLC as a limited liability company on Sept. 4.
- PLANS AND PERMITS was registered at 640 El Rancho Dr., Santa Cruz, by Charles York as an individual business on Sept. 8.
- BERRY BEST SOCIAL MEDIA was registered at 197 Brodin Lane, Watsonville, by Marisa Vasquez as an individual business on Sept. 8.
- ROCKIN’ ROLLS – CINNAMON ROLLS was registered at 1130 Pacific Ave., K1, Santa Cruz, by Rockin’ Rolls – Cinnamon Rolls LLC as a limited liability company on Sept. 8.
- HOTEL VACATION NANNIES CO. was registered at 101 Civic Center Dr., #521, Scotts Valley, by Samantha M. Navai Seigle as an individual business on Sept. 8.
- BIOSWALE SOLUTIONS LANDSCAPING was registered at 617 Amesti Rd., Watsonville, by Bioswale Solutions LLC as a limited liability company on Sept. 8.
- BACK CUT TREE SERVICE was registered at 9520 Manzanita Ave., Ben Lomond, by Anthony Ledesma as an individual business on Sept. 9.
- CLAD, FITCHECK, FITDROP, GALA, LOOM, TWISTS, VENU was registered at 856 Nobel Dr., Santa Cruz, by Daniel Michael Gaughan as an individual business on Sept. 9.
- AGLAEA, TEXTURA, TRIODA, TRIVIA, TUISTS, WAY RIGHT was registered at 856 Nobel Dr., Santa Cruz, by Natalie G. Gaughan as an individual business on Sept. 9.
- MAKAI TARA was registered at 154 Barbara Way, Watsonville, by Makai Tara Kemberly White as an individual business on Sept. 10.
- SMITTYS RESTORATION AND COLLISION was registered at 1218 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz, by Philip Patrick Smith as an individual business on Sept. 10.
- ANGEL APP was registered at 1175 E. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, by Angel Empire LLC as a limited liability company on Sept. 11.
- DE COLORES CLAY was registered at 204 Calabasas Rd., Watsonville, by Daniel Casella as a general partnership on Sept. 11.
- SANTA CRUZ CAMPERS was registered at 1514 Brommer St., Unit B, Santa Cruz, by Eric Jacoby as an individual business on Sept. 11.
Have news that should be in Lookout Briefs? Send your news releases, including contact information, to news@lookoutlocal.com.
MORE LOCAL COVERAGEThe post Santa Cruz County business filings: Week of Sept. 15 appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.
Kennedy Center Votes to Shut Down After Trump’s Brutal Loss in Court
President Trump’s handpicked board of trustees for the Kennedy Center voted Tuesday to immediately close the famed venue for renovations, shortly after a federal court blocked Trump’s latest attempt to put his name on the building.
The board claims that the center is in serious trouble, financially and structurally, pointing to a partial ceiling collapse earlier this month and alleging possible bankruptcy. The board argues that the only way to keep the center running and the building intact is to allow Trump to take over and have his name added to the building’s facade.
This is a developing story.
Iranian spies hit Windows machines with Chosen Brick data-stealing malware
AI agents now have a place to snitch
Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Houses, Ranked (Universal Orlando)
- We rank all 10 of the houses at Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Night from best to worst. We loved Stranger Things and Sinners.
The time has come, the pumpkin said, to talk once again about our journey through Universal Orlando 2026’s Halloween Horror Nights Houses and rank them best on our experience. This year, Universal Orlando 2026’s Halloween Horror Nights brought us 10 new Houses to enjoy: five original houses and five based on existing IP. While we usually lean toward ranking original Houses higher on our list, but this year we have more of a blend on our ranking list. And yes, controversially, we liked the Halloween Horror Nights Stranger Things House. We liked it so much, it’s ranked number one in our book! So join us as we rank Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights Houses from Best to Worst. (And, as usual, caveat that even “worst” means the House is a true work of art. But when you visit 10 haunted houses, you’re just bound to like some more than others.)
Nerdist
Our Full Ranking of Universal Orlando’s 2025 Halloween Horror Nights Houses in List Form; Jump To:- Tied for 1: Stranger Things Was Our Best Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights House in 2026 ( Press Play to Experience the House )
- Tied for 1: Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control Was ALSO Our Best Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights House in 2026
- 3. Sinners
- 4. H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!
- 5. Cybergoria
- 6. Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness
- 7. Evil Dead Burn
- 8. INVASION: Alien Abduction
- 9. Hellraiser
- 10. MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals Was Our Least Favorite Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights House in 2026
Yeah, we said it, and we’ll say it again. We rank Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 2026’s Stranger Things House as one of our best houses. The House deftly wove together all of Stranger Things 5′s best moments and brought us right back to all the feelings we had watching the final moments of one of our favorite shows. From Karen Wheeler fighting a Demogorgon in her kitchen to Dipshit/Delightful Derek yelling his iconic catchphrase to Joyce Byers cutting off Vecna’s head to El’s final act of sacrifice, this Horror Nights House had it all. And, of course, it had Vecna, menacingly beckoning to us from the shadows, and a ton of cool Demogorgons, Demodogs, and Demo-you-name-it. For us, what makes a beautiful Halloween Horror Nights House is the immersion. And this Universal Orlando 2026 House had it in spades. We felt like we walked into Stranger Things‘ final season, and for us, that’s truly wonderful.
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Every STRANGER THINGS Season Ranked From Worst to BestA fun note about the Stranger Things House: the cast changes across different runs. One time, we saw Mike Wheeler. Another time, we saw Dustin and Nancy. We never saw Steve, though—a true tragedy. But we won’t hold it against the House!
Tied for 1: Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control Was ALSO Our Best Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights House in 2026Press Play to Experience the House:
NerdistA less controversial take is next up in our Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 2026 House rankings. In every way, Stranger Things’ equal is the Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control House. Jack and Oddfellow are two Halloween Horror Nights LEGENDS. And this Universal Orlando House beautifully filled in some of their backstory, all while setting the tone for the entire Horror Nights 2026 adventure, whose theme this year was “The Infernal Carnival of Nightmares.”
The Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control House combined narrative, design, scares, and gore in exactly the perfect components. There were bloody beats, tilting rooms, slanting floors, incredible light effects, robots, scare actors, and more. But the, we’ll call it, enemies-to-lovers story of Jack & Oddfellow was always at the heart of every turn and read VERY clearly. It was Halloween Horror Nights magic! Not to mention, I got jump-scared at several junctures. 10/10.
3. SinnersPress Play to Experience the House:
NerdistI can still hear the haunting strum of the guitar in my mind as I think back on the Sinners House. And the lilting voice guiding me into a beautiful night at the Club Juke that goes very wrong. And what could be a better mark of a Halloween Horror Nights House deserving of a high ranking than still haunting the minds of those who visited it?
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Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS Oscar Wins Are Huge for HorrorSinners, the movie, is a gorgeous combination of spectacle, terror, aesthetics, and music. And Sinners, the Universal Orlando 2026 Halloween Horror Nights House, is much the same. The Sinners House invites you into its world and traps you there as you move through scenes from the movie, with triumph and horror blending in and out of one another. There’s a particular kind of chill up your spine that you feel when you’re by the campfire telling ghost stories, and the Sinners Horror Nights House captures that feeling to perfection. It’s the creme de le creme of Haunted Houses. So don’t hesitate; let it consume you.
4. H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!Press Play to Experience the House:
NerdistH.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular! is what you might call the comedy House of Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2026. And normally, I wouldn’t have the comedy House so high up on my list of Halloween Horror Nights House rankings. I’ve seen the B-Movie-esque houses before, and they’re always fun, but they don’t usually stand out. But there was just so much love put into H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!, it’s impossible to deny its brilliance.
From a play on the Headless Horseman to a classroom full of spooky spirits to monsters doing the disco, and, of course, the mad scientist Dr. Pumpkin Spice, there was A LOT to love in this Haunted House. But what I loved most is how warm it felt. It was just brimming with gleeful Halloweeny delight. It felt like fall and trick-or-treating in the best way. And those are some of my favorite feelings of all. Not to mention, any House that wafts Pumpkin Spice into the air is going to be on the “best” side of my Horror Nights Rankings.
The House also contains some great Horror Nights lore for the HHN nerds, as it continues a story started a long time ago about H.R. Bloodengutz. It deftly wove this story into the experience through intermittent television screens that felt atmospheric and helped guide the journey. There were even a few good scares hiding in all the cozy horror. What a delightful experience!
5. CybergoriaPress Play to Experience the House:
NerdistReluctantly, I offer Cybergoria this slot in my House rankings. I did not ENJOY Cybergoria, but it certainly was an effective House. The premise of this House is that machines pretending to want to “help” humanity are ripping them apart instead. And this premise is delivered on. This House is dark, gory, full of awful scents, and lots of innards, blood, and guts. It is also CLAUSTROPHOBIC to the max. And it feels ENDLESS while you’re inside. There was a stretch where I must have been clawed at, menaced, and jump-scared by ten different machines in a row. And just when I thought I was exiting and safe. BAM. Another one. Even rewatching my video of the experience from the comfort of my home, I felt that awful trapped feeling rise in my throat. Good job, Cybergoria, good job.
6. Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of DarknessPress Play to Experience the House:
NerdistHalloween Horror Nights’ Tribute Houses are always really beautiful, and Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness was no exception. In fact, I would rank it higher on my best-to-worst rankings of 2026’s Halloween Horror Nights Houses, but I just can’t! Like other Tribute Houses, it was clear that this House, paying homage to a legend, was crafted with real love. In fact, we learned that Sharon Osbourne herself had signed off on the House, piece by piece.
Naturally, Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness was driven by Ozzy’s iconic music. And yes, there is a train in the middle of the Haunted House; some might even call it a… Crazy Train. Filling the gothic maze of Ozzy’s existence were all kinds of creatures that befit the Prince of Darkness. Werewolves, ravens, vampires, and dark knights bearing Ozzy’s crest all came to the party. There was a perfectly goth, Universal Monsters vibe to the whole affair, and it struck just the right chords. If you’re a fan of darkly romantic, Gothic horror, this is the Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights House for you.
And, of course, the moments when Ozzy himself appeared were emotional and heartfelt, as only a Halloween Horror Nights House can manage to be.
7. Evil Dead BurnPress Play to Experience the House:
Evil Dead Burn is another one of those Horror Nights Houses that makes me think, “Should I rank this higher?” But it’s just edged out by its compatriots. There was some concern Evil Dead Burn might be just another gore House, but instead, I found it spooky in the best of ways. Right from the start, cackling heads, eerie letters written in smoke, and dogs with blazing eyes immerse you into the world. And the fun scares don’t let up from there. Some of my favorite moments happen in the Evil Dead Burn House, including a terrifying actor who looks absolutely deranged cutting a long welt up his arm while looking me dead in the eye. And a phenomenal actress leaping out to cackle, “You’re all gonna die by sunrise.”
RELATED ARTICLE
EVIL DEAD BURN Is a Gore-Soaked Disappointment (Review)The centerpiece of the House, Alice drilling her jackhammer right into Will Price’s chest is just EXCEPTIONALLY done. And there are so many excellent shadowy corners for scares to hide in. This Halloween Horror Nights House gave strong occult energy and I greatly enjoyed it. (Maybe more than Evil Dead Burn, the movie.)
8. INVASION: Alien AbductionPress Play to Experience the House:
NerdistINVASION: Alien Abduction was a super fun House, but it just lacked a little bit of story. It was a personal House for me, because I spoke to its designer ahead of Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 2026. And everything we discussed really came true. This Horror Nights House had all the suspense of a home-invasion thriller PLUS the fun of gray-man alien creatures. Effects like deep floor vibrations (which are hard to create) and set pieces like fun slanting rooms really pulled you into the story the House was trying to tell. And we felt so sorry for the poor abducted goat. It was a great experience, but compared to some of the other Horror Nights Houses, it just ended up a little lower on our Universal Orlando rankings this year.
9. HellraiserPress Play to Experience the House:
NerdistThe Hellraiser House delivered on the promise of the movies. There was pain. There was pleasure. There were Cenobites. But, whilst this was the longest Halloween Horror Nights House at Universal Orlando, it felt a bit too much like the same ideas repeating throughout the House. If you’re a huge Hellraiser fan, you’ll probably adore it. But as someone only mid on the franchise, I felt like I wasn’t receiving much of what I know Hellraiser can deliver. It lacked a little bit of camp, in some ways, and just a touch of imagination. Many of the displays were also prop setups, which is understandable given the subject matter, and yet, I felt it took a little something away. Still, walking into the Puzzle Box was pretty cool. And seeing Pinhead come to life did send a chill/thrill up my spine. Notably, I liked that there were invisible strands of something that made the air feel textured and like it was always brushing against you in the Hellraiser House. It was a neat, unsettling effect perfect for the subject of the House.
RELATED ARTICLE
New HELLRAISER Video Game Brings Back Clive Barker and Original Pinhead, Doug BradleyBut sadly, the Hellraiser House ranks on the worst end of my Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights House rankings this year.
10. MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals Was Our Least Favorite Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights House in 2026Press Play to Experience the House:
NerdistWe need to make one thing about our Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights rankings clear… If there’s that putrid blood/human flesh permeating throughout a house, we’re probably not going to like it very much. Now, some people may LOVE that kind of gore house, but to us, that’s more stomach-turning than actually scary. And that’s the long and the short of how we felt about MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals. The animal creature designs were very cool. And there sure was a lot of flesh consumption going on. But overall, we felt there wasn’t much story or atmosphere to this house… At least not of the kind we enjoy. The creatures were also meant to be engaging in some kind of faction/gang warfare. But all that really meant was sometimes there were motorcycles revving up motor oil and smoke into the air. Additionally, as mentioned, the House was gory, but it also didn’t GO THERE fully, like, say, 2025’s Terrifier House.
Again, every Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights is a masterpiece in its own right. This one just didn’t do it for us. Which is sad because normally we love cannibals.
And thus, that is the wisdom we have to share about the Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights Houses this year. Go forth and visit as you will!
Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist. She is a great lover of the anti-hero and is always ready for a new ship to set sail. In her work, she likes to combine fandom passion with journalistic sensibilities. Follow her on Instagram.The post Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Houses, Ranked (Universal Orlando) appeared first on Nerdist.
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Comedy, music and theatre await at Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Enjoy outdoor, live theatre at Santa Cruz Shakespeare this month!
Between a wild romp like Private Lives and a musical like The Last Five Years, audiences have their pick of delightful theatre experiences under the trees and stars at the Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park this fall.
The productions share the stage with the finale of the Monday Night and Community Revels featuring comedy, tribute bands and beloved local acts.
Paige Lindsey White as Amanda, Chris Cherin as Victor, Charlotte Boyce Munson as Sibyl, and Charles Pasternak as Elyot Credit: Kevin Lohman Photography
Charles Pasternak as Elyot and Paige Lindsey White as Amanda Credit: Davis Banta/Right Hand Creative
Charles Pasternak as Elyot and Paige Lindsey White as Amanda Credit: Davis Banta/Right Hand Creative
Private Lives by Noël Coward
Director: Laura Gordon
Running now through Oct. 4
Imagine running into your ex on your honeymoon. Now imagine the hotel balconies are side by side. Noël Coward’s razor-sharp comedy follows Amanda and Elyot — two passionate, egotistical, utterly irresistible divorcés who discover they may not be as finished with each other as they thought. Expect champagne, sparks and laughter that hurts in the best way. (first name) Pasternak stars as Elyot opposite Paige Lindsey White as Amanda.
Lookout’s own theatre critic Jana Marcus describes this play as “sophisticated, stylish, very funny and just a little bit dangerous.”
Music Director Luke Shepherd and Chris Cherin as Jamie. Credit: Davis Banta/Right Hand Creative
Chris Cherin as Jamie and Charlotte Boyce Munson as Cathy. Credit: Kevin Lohman Photography
Chris Cherin as Jamie and Charlotte Boyce Munson as Cathy. Credit: Kevin Lohman Photography
The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown
Director: Laura Gordon
Music Direction: Luke Shepherd
Running now through Oct. 3
Brown’s gorgeous musical looks at the beginning and ending of a relationship through the eyes of Cathy and Jamie. Cathy tells the story of a relationship backward. Jamie tells it forward. Their timelines intersect only once. It’s tender, heartbreaking and musically stunning — a modern meditation on how we define each other and what it costs to let love go.
For those who attended summer productions of Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, followed by the emotionally moving Fences by August Wilson, these fall productions are an enchanting way to close the outdoor theatre season. And if you didn’t make it to a summer show, now’s the time to enjoy the Grove!
And there’s more!
- Monday Night Revels culminates its final shows in September with a lineup of one-night-only performances at the Grove, including tributes to beloved bands and viral comic sensation Kristin Key.
- Community Revels on Tuesday nights, welcomes local Santa Cruz favorites to the stage – Smoke Cabaret featuring the incomparable Lori Rivera on Sept. 15 and Luke Shepherd featuring Santa Cruz Shakespeare cast superstars singing live on Sept. 22. All proceeds from The SCS Cast Sings! A Night of Cabaret with SCS and Luke Shepherd will go to Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s education programs.
Reserve tickets today. Santa Cruz Shakespeare is a community-powered professional company that blends national talent with deep local roots. And it exists because this community shows up. We can’t wait to see you at The Audrey Stanley Grove.
The post Comedy, music and theatre await at Santa Cruz Shakespeare appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.
US military confirms it launched space weapons into Earth’s orbit
What’s Going On With Mitch McConnell’s Hands?
GOP Senator Mitch McConnell returned to Capitol Hill on Monday, after a 92-day absence, with large, dark bruises on his hands.
This is not the first time the 84-year-old senator has been seen with bruises like this. Similar questions about his bruised hands were raised in 2020, when the senator’s team assured the public there were “no concerns” about the injury. They haven’t commented on it this time either, even as McConnell returns from a three-month paid leave of absence after being found unconscious on the floor of his D.C. home in June. On top of the bruising, McConnell is bound to a wheelchair, and appears gaunt and mentally out of it. And upon his return, his team made sure to only have him conduct interviews in a section of the Senate building that didn’t allow camera recordings.
McConnell’s bruises look similar to the ones Donald Trump has been spotted with throughout his second term, with the president’s most recent flare up occurring during Labor Day weekend. While Trump has blamed the bruising on his intake of “big aspirin” or on his frequent hand-shaking, the White House has been incredibly secretive about that ordeal, as has McConnell’s team—even as the two senior citizens clearly have some other kind of health issue making their hands discolored.
Meta expands subscription push with new AI-focused plans
DIABLO V Breakdown: Timeline, Storyline, Classes, and More
- BlizzCon 2026 gave attendees a major surprise with Diablo V, which is the newest installment in the StarCraft franchise.
- Nerdist got the inside scoop with an early breakdown of what’s in store for this action-RPG.
- Diablo V is currently on track for a 2029 release.
Alongside the reveal of the newest installment in the StarCraft franchise, the other big surprise of BlizzCon 2026 was Diablo V. On track for a 2029 release, Diablo V will bring the dark-fantasy action-RPG series to its most brutal and chaotic setting yet. It will give players plenty of incentive to tear through dangerous mobs of foes to power up with valuable loot and to take down the series’ toughest villains.
During BlizzCon 2026, we got an early breakdown of what’s in store for the action-RPG series’ bold step into a dark future. Along with hearing from game director Joe Shely and narrative director Jennifer Hepler about bridging Diablo IV to V, we also got some early teases on which classes are to come with Diablo V, and how the post-apocalyptic dark fantasy adventure will change how players explore and fight in a Diablo game.
With the reveal of Diablo V, we learned that the next game is set over a century after the events of Diablo IV‘s Age of Hatred saga, which saw the heroes of Sanctuary face off against Lilith and Mephisto’s dark legions. Unfortunately, the relative peace following Mephisto’s fall was short-lived, and the Prime Evil Diablo and their forces of hell launch another invasion in the realm of Sanctuary—and they ultimately succeed. With the world now in ruin following hell’s invasion, powerful heroes and the remaining survivors of Sanctuary trek across the ruins of civilization to power up and face off against Diablo once again.
In Diablo V, the main story will follow a road journey of sorts, with players traveling with a caravan of other survivors through the ruined world and venturing into new, increasingly dangerous regions. All the while, Diablo’s influence will be felt throughout, and his presence in the main story will be the most front-facing of the series—even with moments where the player characters will struggle with resisting his powers.
“While we were working on Diablo V, there were things we wanted to do with player agency and give you a close connection to the story of Diablo, and put you in the driver’s seat in the story,” said narrative director Jennifer Hepler. “It’s about giving you a defined identity, and those were things that we’ve been working on already while Diablo IV’s content has been coming out. When Diablo IV‘s Lord of Hatred expansion came out, we saw how much the community responded to feeling central to the story, not just a wanderer who came in. They built relationships with characters like Lilith and Mephisto. Seeing those responses felt like it really validated the approach we were doing for D5, and it definitely made me want to go full steam ahead with our approach.”
Blizzard Entertainment
The developers are also shifting away from the vast but fixed open world of D4, and back toward a more classic approach to exploration for the new entry. Along with the return of procedurally generated maps, players will also stick to a singular community of allies within the caravan, who will be your guide and quest givers. The aim for Diablo V‘s main story is to keep progression something of a surprise and to add unpredictability to the journey through a dark world, all while keeping your fragile community together. Despite the bleak tone, the developers of D5 see the game as having a hopeful message: that light can come from the darkest times.
The developers also said Diablo will have the largest starting roster of classes in the series, with more to come post-launch. So far, the confirmed player D5 classes are the Demon Hunter and the Monk (returning from Diablo III), and the brand new Plague Knight class, which is a blend of a heavily armored melee fighter with a poison-spewing mage. It’s all about giving players options for how they want to fight through post-apocalyptic Sanctuary, and the developers were keen to use the successes of Diablo IV going into D5.
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WORLD OF WARCRAFT: FOREVER Brings the Classic Era to a New Level“I would say we’re not just looking back on Diablo IV, but we’re looking alongside it,” said game director Joe Shely. “While we’ve been working on this game, we’ve been paying attention to the incredible success of things like War Plans in Diablo IV‘s Lord of Hatred, which has been incredible to see. Diablo IV has a bright future and a lot of incredible content and lessons for us.”
As for Diablo IV, the developers are still aiming to deliver steady content and new updates, even with no more expansions on the way. Along with seasonal content planned for the next few years ahead of Diablo V‘s launch – with many updates building up to the main villain’s eventual plans for victory prior to D5‘s core events – Diablo IV will also see the return of the playable Amazon in 2027, which has been long overdue.
So far, Diablo V is making a great case for the franchise’s sudden pivot to a new entry. For a long time, Diablo has been THE dark fantasy RPG, but to see the developers pull the lever all the way to the nightmare scenario for its next entry is a bold choice. But it’s also one that feels like it could make for the most daring game of the series. Hopefully, we’ll be able to see the true scope of this post-apocalyptic journey soon.
The post DIABLO V Breakdown: Timeline, Storyline, Classes, and More appeared first on Nerdist.
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Kash Patel Reveals Alarming Plan to Have FBI Monitor the Polls
FBI Director Kash Patel all but confirmed that the bureau’s agents will be deployed to voting locations this November.
As Patel testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, multiple Democratic senators asked him whether the FBI would be at polling stations for the midterm elections. After trying to dodge their questions, he eventually admitted they would be there.
Senator Richard Blumenthal tried multiple times to get Patel to commit to saying that zero agents would be at the polls, to which Patel said that agents would be at the bureau’s field offices on Election Day, refusing to offer any guarantees.
“On Election Day, the FBI will follow the law. If there’s a reason to go there because there’s been a violation of law, we will, otherwise we won’t,” Patel said.
Sen. Blumenthal: "Can you commit to the committee that you will not send FBI agents to the polls?"
Patel: "On election day, the FBI will follow the law. If there's a reason to go there because there's been a violation of the law, we will. Otherwise, we won't." pic.twitter.com/LazW1Cnu5h
Senator Peter Welch also asked Patel about agents being sent to polling locations, specifically noting that Michigan’s Republican nominee for governor, Representative John James, said that Patel had told him that the FBI would have a presence in the state leading up to Election Day.
Patel replied that there were election crimes coordinators in all of the bureau’s 56 field offices. Welch was taken aback, saying, “I thought you weren’t going to be sending people to the polls.”
“When did you hear that? It’s just another lie,” Patel said, accusing Welch of lying for a campaign sound bite. When Welch pressed Patel, he repeated his line about election crimes coordinators, adding, “Election integrity is of paramount importance. This FBI will not shy away from that effort.”
“Do you pledge that you will not in any way interfere in the will of the American people when they go to the polls in November?” Welch asked.
“I have pledged unequivocally that I will not participate in your charade of lies,” Patel said.
🚨 Kash Patel admits FBI agents will be deployed to polling places 👇
WELCH: I thought you weren't going to be sending people to the polls?
KASH PATEL: When did you hear that? It's just another lie
WELCH: So you are sending FBI agents to the polls?
PATEL: We have election… pic.twitter.com/V04Dc42Jx5
All of this raises questions as to whether President Trump plans to send federal law enforcement to polling places for the midterms, and what their orders will be. He has compliant lackeys in the form of Patel’s FBI and ICE agents funded by the Department of Homeland Security’s bloated budget. Trump frequently accuses his political opponents of cheating and rigging elections against him. Based on how he acted in the 2020 presidential elections that he lost, those accusations seem more like confessions.
Once again, Trump’s crowd numbers suck
Official television viewership numbers for last week are out, which means we now get to learn just how low the ratings were for President Donald Trump’s unnecessary midterm convention. That thing was never going to draw a lot of eyeballs, given it was nothing but a jamboree to make the president feel special, but then the GOP went and scheduled it to run against the NFL’s first and second…
Jean Grey 1/6 Figure Completes X-MEN: TAS Main Team (Exclusive)
- Mondo’s new 1/6 scale deluxe Jean Grey figure completes the main team from the iconic X-Men: The Animated Series
- Jean Grey comes with several detachable heads and hands, along with a Cerebro helmet and psychic power energy displays.
- Nerdist’s take: This figure completes the main X-Men: The Animated Series roster, and who wouldn’t want Marvel’s Merry Mutants all posing together on a shelf?
For the past few years, the folks at Mondo have been creating excellent 1/6 scale figures based on the characters from the iconic ’90s X-Men: The Animated Series. And now, the main roster of mutant heroes from Xavier’s School is complete, with the addition of Jean Grey. The psychic/telekinetic mutant (and host of the Phoenix Force) looks exactly like her animated counterpart, wearing her Jim Lee-designed costume from 1991’s X-Men #1. This deluxe figure will set you back $245, and you can pre-order it right here.
Mondo
You can check out several images of the Jean Grey figure, including one with her X-Men comrades, along with the official product description, below:
Mind over matter.
One of the most powerful mutants to ever join the X-Men, Jean Grey brings her formidable telepathic and telekinetic abilities to Mondo’s X-Men: The Animated Series 1/6 Scale line. Featuring multiple portraits, swappable hands, psychic effect accessories and more, our Jean Grey 1/6 Scale Figure captures the heart of the X-Men and hints at the incredible power waiting beneath the surface.
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The swappable heads for Jean include the ponytail look she usually wore, as well as one with her hair loose. She also comes with a Cerebro helmet, and different faces showing various stages of psychic anguish. There are also several different swappable hands, and different energy patterns meant to symbolize her invisible psychic power. There’s also a floating Magneto helmet, encased in a psychic bubble. After all, Ms. Grey is one of the few mutants powerful enough to put a dent in the Master of Magnetism’s armor.
Mondo
Mondo is also releasing a Jean Grey enamel pin by Tom Whalen, also inspired by her ’90s cartoon look. This is a 1.6″ high soft enamel pin, double post on silver metal, with a silver clutch backing. You can purchase this one for $15.00 by clicking right here. Jean features in the biggest movie of the year, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and soon in the MCU X-Men. What better time to show off your love for this Omega-level mutant hero?
Eric Diaz is a staff writer at Nerdist and a Swiss Army knife of fandoms. Eric loves DC, Marvel, horror movies, and even Star Wars and Star Trek equally.The post Jean Grey 1/6 Figure Completes X-MEN: TAS Main Team (Exclusive) appeared first on Nerdist.
Baking up fun: Santa Cruz County Fair starts Wednesday
A giant apple pie made of fabric sits near the entrance of JJ Crosetti Hall at the 2026 Santa Cruz County Fair. The work represents the multitude of arts on display in the building, the much-loved apple pie contest and the rich agriculture that makes up the backbone of the fair. The event runs Wednesday through Sunday. For a schedule of events, live music, hours, parking and shuttle information, visit santacruzcountyfair.com. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

GETTINJG READY This man sets up the Apple Tower food station at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in preparation for the upcoming fair.
Judge Tells Trump to Go Kick Rocks on Kennedy Center Name
A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts could not inscribe “renovated and restored by President Donald J. Trump” on the side of the building—almost certainly dashing Trump’s hopes to get his name placed somewhere on the historic cultural institution.
“Simply put, defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress’s blessing,” U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper wrote. “The board resolution bucks a federal court order and a statute Congress enacted.”
This is a developing story.
America is building datacenters faster than the grid can power them
WORLD OF WARCRAFT: FOREVER Brings the Classic Era to a New Level
- World of Warcraft: Forever will create an evolving time capsule of early WoW that adds new quests and expanded content to take the classic era in a new direction.
- We spoke to creative team members behind the game at BlizzCon 2026.
- Nerdist’s Take: WoW: Forever is ready to take gaming to a whole new level.
It’s been over two decades since the launch of World of Warcraft, and the quintessential massively multiplayer online role-playing game is still going strong. With new updates fleshing out the world of Azeroth, the latest expansion, The Last Titan, is on track for a 2027 release. But the spin-off WoW Classic has grown in popularity, offering a nostalgic revisit to the early years of Blizzard’s online game.
At BlizzCon 2026, the developers announced that they’re doubling down on the 2000s-era throwback with the newly announced World of Warcraft: Forever. It will create an evolving time capsule of early WoW that adds new quests and expanded content to take the classic era in a new direction.
We got an early look at WoW: Forever during BlizzCon, which debuted with a lush cinematic trailer recalling the wonder and epic scope of World of Warcraft‘s original opening movie. In addition to playing some early questing with WoW: Forever‘s new Elf Skyborne character type, we also learned new details from associate production director Clayton Stone and lead software engineer Ana Resendez about the making of WoW: Forever and why the enthusiasm for the classic era has endured.
As a separate game alongside the current World of Warcraft Classic, World of Warcraft: Forever brings players to an alternate version of the early era of the MMORPG before the arrival of the Outland portal from the Burning Crusade expansion. WoW: Forever presents an evolving storyline that takes some twists and turns not present in the original game, opening up new quests and dungeons, new locations like a fully explorable Mount Hyjal, and new class and character combinations such as the Undead Paladin and Troll Warlock.
It’s essentially the experience of WoW Classic, but in a unique timeline and experience that emphasizes player community within the World of Warcraft circa 2006. That growing community of players invested in WoW Classic in recent years was one of the driving factors behind WoW: Forever.
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FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION Unleashes a Massive Open World“I think a big part of why classic WoW has endured has been the player community, even just coming back to BlizzCon over the years and hearing player stories of when they met their partner, or how they’ve kept playing with the same game guild for over 20 years now,” said lead software engineer Ana Resendez. “That social aspect has been a part of the MMO experience, and being able to go around in the world exploring and meeting each other to share stories has been very cool. You are on that journey with other people, too. I think that’s what has been really unique about World of Warcraft, the MMO aspect of it. I think that’s what really captures the essence of it, and that’s why it’s so important for us to also emphasize the journey over the destination and that the world is the main character because we really believe that that’s where the stories are.”
The developers have been especially keen on emphasizing that aspect of the journey. One of the key touchstones for WoW: Forever is to keep the player community together. To that end, WoW: Forever will focus mainly on level 1-60 content, and will stick with locations within core Azeroth’s Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. The developers also said the Burning Crusade’s Outland and content from other expansions won’t be coming to the game for the foreseeable future, with the intent of keeping the experience focused on core Azeroth and ensuring players won’t be left behind.
Another way WoW: Forever leans into the player community is through “serendipitous interactions,” which focus on in-the-moment encounters with other players while journeying through Azeroth. One new feature is the camping system, which lets players build up temporary safe havens in the world where they gain benefits for resting. This also offers another way for players to meet others during these roadside encounters, potentially adding new social interactions and opportunities to team up.
“We really focus on progression or long journeys that players can go on to try to achieve something for their character,” said associate production director Clayton Stone. “Historically, World of Warcraft has always been a building-up vertical power scaling. There will be some of that, especially for, like, our first year of WoW: Forever, but something that’s been important about the Classic experience is how important it is to rerun the raids and other activities that lead up to something like Naxxramas. It creates this forward momentum, and sometimes there could be an item, let’s say, in Molten Core or AQ40 (Temple of Ahn’Qiraj) that you end up using for the rest of your journey, and it doesn’t become obsolete. We certainly intend to lean in on that, but at least for our first year, there will be a little bit of vertical power progression.”
Blizzard Entertainment
It won’t be long till players can dive into WoW: Forever, which will be available to subscribers of the MMORPG. Players will be able to give WoW: Forever a try in an upcoming beta on September 17, but the full launch is set for November 4 for PC. Along with some modernized elements, the developers have also added more refined controller support, including user-interface changes.
With Vanilla WoW on the comeback in recent years, WoW: Forever is in a uniquely strong position to elevate the classic era of the online game to a new level. And with plans to focus on building a newly refreshed and alternate era of the early years of World of Warcraft, it could very well be the revisit that makes for a compelling reason to dive back into the MMO’s evolving world.
The post WORLD OF WARCRAFT: FOREVER Brings the Classic Era to a New Level appeared first on Nerdist.