News Highlights
We don’t only report the news, we make the news. Our news highlights and archive here.
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David Deamer and David Haussler Elected Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors
David Deamer and David Haussler have received the highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors.
Force4 Closes Out a Remarkable Year
Force4 capped 2025 with major wins in AI, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and GEO search, elevating clients and strengthening Santa Cruz’s innovation ecosystem while positioning itself for even greater impact in 2026.
Newsworthy.ai Launches Newscrafters
Newsworthy.ai’s new NewsCrafters.com blends AI and human editors to transform press releases into search-friendly articles, bridging paid PR and earned media while helping brands, agencies, and experts build topic authority, visibility, and long-term organic reach.
PAI Palooza Build with Native AI Studio
Build, hack, and show off at PAI Palooza—three days of workshops, demos, and a community-powered hackathon exploring Personal AI. Learn the tools, prototype fast, and pitch your wildest AI creations.
Watsonville Resident Launches Petition as Strict Zoning Enforcement Squeezes Local Street Vendors
Samantha Solis’s petition urges Watsonville officials to reconsider zoning enforcement practices that vendors say undermine their businesses and threaten their ability to operate legally.
A Look at the AHSC Internship Program’s Real-World Impact on Local Businesses
A look at how the AHSC interns are transforming local organizations through fresh skills, digital innovation, and meaningful contributions that strengthen employer capacity.
UCSC Alumnus-Founded Company Confluent Acquired by IBM
UCSC Alumni founded company, Confluent, has been acquired by tech giant IBM.
Book Review: Sentient – Meet Your Maker by Tony J. Hughes
Tony J. Hughes’s Sentient – Meet Your Maker arrives at a moment when society is collectively renegotiating its relationship with artificial intelligence. The book is a speculative psychological thriller, but to treat it as merely fiction would miss its deeper contribution.
Cabrillo College IT Institute Expands into New Pre-Apprentice Certificate
The 6th cohort of the Cabrillo College IT Institute begins January 23, 2026. The IT Institute is an 11-week, fast-paced training program designed to prepare individuals for entry-level roles in Information Technology.
Titans 2025 Nominees
Each week, we're pulling back the curtain to spotlight the incredible individuals that you have nominated for the 2025 Titans Awards. Check out this weeks nominees.
A Clear Path for Santa Cruz: The RTC Finally Moves Toward a Reality-Based Interim Trail
Santa Cruz’s RTC finally approved a buildable interim trail for Segments 9–11, acknowledging financial and engineering realities after years of gridlock. The decision preserves grant funding, improves safety and access, offers clarity for nearby residents, and creates the first real path forward for the corridor.
Looking for Jobs? Here’s 7 Companies That Are Currently Hiring in Santa Cruz County [December 2025]
Are you currently looking for work? Here is a round up of 7 local Santa Cruz County companies who are hiring this December.
Should You Job Search During the Holidays? Why the Answer Might Be Yes
A timely look at why the holidays can be one of the most strategic and opportunity-filled moments to job search, especially as AI-driven skills and shifting workplace trends reshape what employers need.
Welcome Mash: Santa Cruz Works Accelerator Director
Mash joins as SCWorks Accelerator Director, bringing proven startup leadership and community-building experience. He will guide founders, expand partnerships, and strengthen our mission to support innovative companies with resources, capital access, and growth pathways.
Reservoir Farms Opens Applications for 2026 AgTech Startup Programs in Salinas
Are you an Agtech startup ready to test and validate your tech? Reservoir Farms in Salinas is opening applications for its 2026 startup programs.
Santa Cruz Works’ Accelerator Alumni Shine: CarbonBridge’s CSO Recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30
The Santa Cruz entrepreneurial ecosystem is celebrating a major achievement as Sophia Xu, CSO and Cofounder of CarbonBridge, has been named to this year's Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Energy & Green Tech category for the 2026 class.
“This is Not Your Dad’s dot-com Bubble”
AI is powering a $4 trillion economic transformation. Unlike past bubbles, it’s building real infrastructure, boosting GDP, and accelerating innovation at scale. Corporate investment is reshaping industries and positioning the economy for long-term growth and technological leadership.
Santa Cruz Works 2025 Holiday Gift Guide
Looking for the perfect gift? Here are some locally made or designed products to check out!
5 Things Santa Cruz Businesses Should do Before Closing Their Doors
A diverse community of Santa Cruz business owners stands united against uncertainty, framed by the Boardwalk and Clock Tower. Their shared resilience says it all: learn from yesterday, act today, plan for tomorrow, and rest with gratitude this Thanksgiving.
Halloween: A Real-World Stress Test for the Human Sleep System
Fullpower-AI’s Sleeptracker dataset shows Halloween triggers a nationwide spike in resting heart rate from sugar, alcohol, late nights, and nervous-system stimulation, revealing how lifestyle shocks and seasonal changes like the Fall Effect imprint themselves on human sleep at population scale.

