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The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary began a two-year project, funded by a state grant, that will sample rivers, nearby beaches, ocean water and marine life for microplastics.
Later this summer, Santa Cruz native Natalia Grossman will climb in Paris at the 2024 Olympic Games.
With extreme heat warnings issued for much of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, here’s what you can do to stay cool through the holiday weekend.
Published for four years in the 1990s, the periodical provided a space for local LGBTQ+ residents to learn about safer sex practices, communicate community issues, celebrate their identity and more.
Can a city legally punish someone for sleeping outside if there’s no shelter available? That’s the question at the heart of a U.S. Supreme Court case slated for a ruling by the end of June.
"Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" is coming to the Sunset Center's Studio 105, with the help of some local performers.
Students who formed an encampment in support of Palestine at UC Santa Cruz escalated their protests on Tuesday. They blocked both entrances to the University, preventing traffic from moving on or off of campus.
Walking tours are just some of the efforts illuminating the seemingly invisible presence and impact of Chinese cultural enclaves in Salinas, Pacific Grove and Santa Cruz.
It's the third strike at UC Santa Cruz in five years. Their union, UAW 4811, argues that the university has violated free speech. The action is distinct from the encampment on campus in solidarity with Palestine, but shares similar demands.
KAZU speaks with Lookout Santa Cruz reporter Hillary Ojeda about the Ruyles, a family that is leaving California due to the high cost of living in Santa Cruz County.
Santa Cruz Resident Charlie Lindner of the Jazz Trio The Pickle Mafia performs and talks about making music and pickles with KAZU's Dylan Music in Studio B
Increased Narcan access is one of the latest efforts by local government to address growing opioid-related deaths in Monterey County.
I Cantori's music director discusses the upcoming concert "Opera Under the Stars" at Carmel's Forest Theater
The pelicans appear to be starving and are unable to fly. SPCA Monterey County's Beth Brookhouser discusses what the organization is doing to help.
The center joins 13 others across the Cal State system specifically for queer and trans students.
Dozens of tents line the UCSC Quarry Plaza in protest of the university's support of Isreal
A Berman-authored law partly inspired the event, organized by a coalition of local journalists and educators. It aims to bolster students’ ability to detect misinformation.
Pro-Palestinian protesters set up tents outside the UCSC Bookstore on Wednesday morning
Music student Keshav Batish performs alongside his father, Ashwin Batish, who plays tabla. His upcoming recital at UCSC Recital Hall is part of his DMA program at UCSC.
The multimedia exhibit, at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, has been several years in the making. It’s the product of efforts by Watsonville Filipinos to show a fuller picture of their families’ lives beyond the 1930 anti-Filipino race riots.
Three weeks after a segment of Highway 1 fell into the ocean in Big Sur, businesses and residents are counting down the days until the expected May 27 reopening at Rocky Creek.
A Santa Cruz startup is 3D printing surfboards out of recycled plastic in hopes of making surfing more sustainable.
In response to technical issues with the FAFSA, the California Student Aid Commission is granting mixed-status students access to an aid program typically reserved for undocumented students.
The marathon, 21-miler and relay will run an out-and-back course that starts and finishes in Carmel. It’s not the first time the distance event has had to reroute.
With Big Sur state parks closed and tourists unable to visit the area, local businesses are bracing for an uncertain summer.
Weather permitting, authorities will close Highway 1 between the Park Ave. and Bay/Porter exits near Capitola from 7:00 p.m. Saturday until 7:00 p.m. Sunday. The construction is a milestone in a years-long, $270 million reconstruction of the freeway in Santa Cruz County.
With Trans Day of Visibility on March 31, KAZU explored some of the places where trans people can find space for community, joy and grief.
California has passed several laws in the last few decades that make college more accessible for undocumented residents. But once these students graduate, they’re on their own.
The elementary-aged students from Tara Redwood School in Santa Cruz discovered a fossilized bone while exploring a creek last spring. The bone was from the arm of a Jefferson ground sloth — the first fossil to show the Ice Age creature lived in the Santa Cruz area.
The memorial will break ground this summer and construction is set to finish in winter. It’s among several efforts locally and nationally to acknowledge the ongoing devastation from the pandemic.
Helen Barrington shares her first impressions of KAZU, the future of journalism, and her thoughts on how the station can better serve our community.
Measure N requires two-thirds of voter approval to pass. The measure would fund the future of Watsonville Community Hospital, and is just a couple of points ahead.
County Clerk Tricia Webber spoke with KAZU about how ballot processing in the county is going.
The race’s results will impact how Soledad’s mayor is chosen — whether council members rotate the position or it’s filled by someone voters elected directly.
With a vote on Measure N, residents in the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District will decide whether improvements to Watsonville Community Hospital are worth higher property taxes for the next 30 years.
Monterey and Santa Cruz counties offer election resources in multiple Asian languages. It’s one way California has tried to increase voter registration, turnout and accessibility in recent years.
Over 200,000 registered voters. 137 different ballots. Up to a thousand election workers. All in one Central Coast County. This is what preparing for an election looks like at the local scale.
On March 5, Santa Cruz voters will decide whether to pass Measure M, which would require a referendum on any development project that exceeds the city's existing height limits, and raise the requirements for affordable units in new developments from 20% to 25%.
When powerful winter storms overwhelmed Pajaro’s aging levee system in March, it forced thousands to evacuate their homes. Six months later, many in the community are still struggling to return.
The aging Pajaro levee is undergoing repairs ahead of winter, but will remain vulnerable to floods. Despite hopes for an expedited upgrade, a safer levee is still likely a decade away.
New Santa Cruz band Smoke Chaser is busy this fall. They've released their debut album "Alazapul" and will be performing at Sand City's West End Celebration this weekend. Next Month they'll be performing at a benefit for the Zayante Fire Protection District at the Felton Music Hall.
Last winter's rain has helped reduce fire risk so far, but a Cal Fire environmental scientist says danger will continue to increase as the hot, dry weather continues.
Santa Cruz resident Carla H. Brown won the 2023 World Laughter Championship. Hear the laughs that won her the title.
Local Musicians Flaco el Jandro and Gabi Bravo perform new song "Apaga la Luz [Turn off the Lights]" in the KAZU studio
The victims who suffered property damage during last winter’s storms have more time to register for federal disaster relief. The registration period, which was scheduled to end last Thursday, has now been extended to September 1st.
The New Canon Theater Company’s latest play, Finding Chase, opening this week, is a world premiere that deals with love, loss and redemption.
Known to officials as Otter 841, the southern sea otter has started chasing surfers around Steamer Lane and Cowells. She has an affinity for gnawing on soft-top surfboards and flippers. Wildlife officials, who are hoping to keep the otter safe, have been unable to capture her.
KAZU's Lisa Ledin speaks with Adam Skerritt and Suzanne Mudge. Both are involved in the production of “The Hidden Forest.” The performance will be at Carmel’s Sunset Center on July 22.
KAZU's Dylan Music spoke with Beth Ann Matthews about her recent memoir Deep Waters: A Memoir of Loss, Alaska Adventure, and Love Rekindled.
The weather on the second day of the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links started mild, with the promise of winds picking up into the afternoon.
The storied hundred-year-old Pebble Beach Golf Links will host its first USGA major women’s championship July 6 through July 9.
Just over a year ago, Steve Bruemmer was attacked by a great white shark. Three strangers came to his rescue and saved his life.On June 24, those three will be honored for their heroism. KAZU’s Jonathan Linden spoke with Bruemmer, along with one of the individuals that helped save him.
The City of Salinas is home to one of the Central Coast’s most important literary figures. It’s the birthplace of John Steinbeck and the setting for some of his most famous novels like "East of Eden" and "Of Mice and Men."
June 19 will mark 157 years since the first celebration of Juneteenth. To mark the holiday, the Monterey-based non-profit Juneteenth Coalition will host several events in the city of Monterey through June 19.
Journalist Bob Woodward and Historians Annette Gordon-Reed and Douglas Brinkley came to Monterey to discuss the state of democracy in the United States, in the last of this year's Leon Panetta Lecture Series. KAZU's Jerimiah Oetting joined an intimate press conference ahead of the event.
Salinas native and Cal State Monterey Bay student Flaco el Jandro is an up-and-coming musician. On June 22, he'll be performing at NPR's Tiny Desk Contest On the Road in San Francisco. The concert will feature musicians that competed in the Tiny Desk Contest.
Dr. Gail Newel led Santa Cruz through the pandemic. As she approaches her retirement, she spoke with KAZU about her career, the challenges of the pandemic, and what's ahead for the county.
The announcement comes months after Gov. Gavin Newsom promised money from the state's rapid response fund to help undocumented workers who can't access FEMA assistance.
The wet winter has led to countless flowers decorating our local landscapes. Science illustrator Erin Hunter guided KAZU's Doug McKnight on a walk through a coastal superbloom, describing the species and colors along the way.
The city of Monterey joined several other local cities that kicked off Pride month by raising pride flags on Thursday.
A spokesperson for Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital says the bankruptcy is intended to keep the hospital's doors open, while the San Benito Healthcare District works with county leaders to find a solution.
For over a hundred years, the only building in the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea with a street address has been the post office. Now residents are pushing for a change.
Astronaut Victor Glover on his ties to Monterey, and his role as pilot for NASA’s Artemis II mission — the first NASA lunar mission since 1972.
This year’s historic winter storms and floods, followed by unusually cold weather, set back crops throughout the region. The delay is rippling from farms to farmworkers and into the broader economy.
Santa Cruz County Deputy Health Officer David Ghilarducci reacts to the end of the national COVID-19 public health emergency, which was lifted today.
Vanya Quiñones is in her first year as president of CSU Monterey Bay. She oversees a university of more than 7,000 students that faces challenges in a post-pandemic world. KAZU's Doug McKnight had the opportunity to speak with President Quiñones at the KAZU studios on CSUMB campus.
Some Pajaro flood victims will not qualify for the long-awaited federal reimbursement programs through FEMA. But local charities are filling the gap.
The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District has offered California American Water $448.8 million for its local assets in the region.
The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District will tonight announce its initial offer to purchase the California American Water system .
Rep. Zoe Lofgren speaks with KAZU's Jonathan Linden about the indictment of former President Donald Trump.
Pajaro residents were able to return home on Thursday. It's the first glimpse residents are getting of their homes nearly two weeks after they flooded.
The timeline for residents’ return home is still uncertain, causing frustration for flood victims on both sides of the Pajaro river bridge — the ones who evacuated, and the ones who stayed behind.
Water might have stopped falling from the sky, but officials are worried flooding will continue.
Monterey County officials say the levee breach that devastated the community of Pajaro has been plugged. Now, the focus is turning to a more lasting fix.
A section of Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and Monterey is set to reopen. It had been closed at the Pajaro Bridge since Sunday.
Monterey County administrators hope the public outcry from the latest Pajaro levee failure will spur robust federal action.
As our region faces an ongoing natural disaster, communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains are still struggling to recover from one that’s nearly three years old. The CZU fires destroyed 911 homes in 2020. To date, only 24 have been rebuilt. We speak with Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce McPherson about the slow recovery in his district.
President Joe Biden approved a federal state of emergency declaration for 34 counties, including Monterey and Santa Cruz, following the atmospheric river that hit California on Thursday and Friday.
Newly appointed Sierra Club executive director Ben Jealous is returning to his hometown of Pacific Grove to sign his new book, "Never Forget Our People Were Always Free."
Many Big Sur residents are frustrated. Eleven miles of Highway 1 remains closed, as Caltrans continues cleanup from the storms in January. The closures have disrupted the lives of many Big Sur locals, causing issues with getting to work, taking kids to school, and receiving services like trash pick up.
Hundreds of millions of agricultural pesticides are sprayed on farm fields in California each year. Those pesticides affect the farm workers who labor in the fields and the communities nearby, where exposure is linked to increases in respiratory diseases, headaches, and even developmental disabilities. Most of the residents in those communities are people of color.
Osama Esber – a journalist and father came to KAZU's studios to read his poem "On the Fault Lines, On War Lines."
Communities along the Pajaro river narrowly avoided disaster, as aging levees struggled to hold back catastrophic flood waters during January’s relentless storms. Despite decades of neglect and a growing awareness of the levees’ dire condition, a permanent fix is still years away.
Three different slides have isolated a 30-mile stretch of Highway 1 in Big Sur. Residents will remain cut off for weeks as Caltrans crews remove debris from the highway.
After weeks of rain, the Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament is here. The recent sunshine is good news for golfers.
A series of storms battered the state earlier this month, affecting 41 of the state's 58 counties. Estimates put damage at over $1 billion.
Now that the long parade of storms in California has passed, residents are assessing the damage to their homes. Many have a long road to recovery. Some are still without power.
With a brief break in the storms hitting the state, businesses along the Capitola esplanade are trying to clean up. Officials say true recovery can't begin until the last expected storm hits next week.
The Carmel River is usually no more than a shallow creek. But with this week’s rain, that gentle stream through the Carmel Valley became a rushing river.
Thousands of people were evacuated across Santa Cruz County on Monday as rivers and creeks began to flood.
Heavy rain, a powerful storm surge and exceptionally high tides led to heavy damage in Capitola and other coastal areas.
A conversation with Dave Reid, the director of Santa Cruz County's Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience, about the potential impacts of the storm and how residents should prepare
As many prepare to celebrate the holidays, local health officials are asking residents to be vigilant as they spend time with friends and family.
KAZU's Jonathan Linden sat down with Pacific Grove author and journalist Ava Homa. They discuss Homa's upbringing in Iran and her book Daughters of Smoke and Fire.
A Santa Cruz County music education program that was a finalist for a $500,000 national prize will not take home the top honors. But the organizers of El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley, and the 1,000 students who take part, still have plenty to be proud of.
The competition honors music programs that offer students “access to learning, creating, and performing experiences that reflect their culture and identity." Finalists are in the running for a $500,000 national prize.
Three weeks in, the statewide strike of University of California academic workers is creating a complicated situation for undergrads facing final exams.
As family and friends gather for the holidays, they bring food, good cheer, and sometimes coughs and sneezes. This year, one of the illnesses, RSV or respiratory syncytial virus, has become a serious threat for young children and a concern for local healthcare workers.
Two weeks ago the California Coastal Commission approved the much debated desalination plant proposed by California American Water. Despite the approval, it could be years before construction begins.
The statewide strike includes 48,000 workers involved in teaching and instruction, who are demanding higher wages to keep up with the rising cost of living in California
Most of the California tribes who have weighed in on Proposition 27 are against it. They’re worried about language tucked away in the measure that could potentially undermine tribal sovereignty. But at least one tribal chair says it's a way to support financially disadvantaged tribes that don't own big casinos.
Many parents in Monterey County struggle to find affordable childcare. The Measure Q ballot measure this election attempts to offer a solution, but not all are convinced.
The measure would levy a tax of $6,000 per year on a vacant home in a building with six or fewer units. The tax drops to $3,000 per year on apartments and townhomes in larger buildings.
Two candidates with different backgrounds are in the running for Monterey County sheriff. Tina Nieto is the police chief for the city of Marina. She's running against Joe Moses.
Students and faculty at Santa Cruz High School are safe after police responded to a false report of an active shooter.
Two candidates with different backgrounds are in the running for Monterey County sheriff. Joe Moses has worked in the department for three decades. His opponent, Tina Nieto, is the Marina chief of police. KAZU News interviewed both candidates ahead of the election.
A new state law aims to keep food and other organic waste out of the landfill. But the food scrap collection program in Santa Cruz is making a mess for some residents.
Californians will vote on Proposition 30 in November. If passed, it will raise the income tax on Californians who make more than $2 million by 1.75% each year to pay for electric-vehicle incentives and wildfire prevention programs. But the measure has split Gov. Gavin Newsom from the rest of his party.
California education law calls for all public schools to offer comprehensive arts education, but in reality, very few of them do. This November, voters will decide on Proposition 28: whether or not to guarantee arts funding in public schools, including charters.
Californians will vote on the amendment in the form of Proposition 1 come November, but as the election approaches, lawmakers still do not agree whether the measure would merely enshrine abortion rights as they are currently articulated in state law, which allows abortion up to 24 weeks, or whether it would expand abortion rights, so as to permit abortions at any point in pregnancy, for any reason.
The union representing city workers reached a new tentative agreement with the city, ending the three-day strike.
For more than 20 years, the African American Theater Arts Troupe at UC Santa Cruz has provided a place for students of color to find a sense of belonging through performing arts.
For more than 20 years, the African American Theater Arts Troupe at UC Santa Cruz has provided a place for students of color to find a sense of belonging through performing arts.
The legendary group whose original members ushered in the folk music revival of the 50s and 60s is playing in Santa Cruz this week.
An endangered tropical plant known as the corpse flower made a stink this week, as its enormous smelly flower miraculously bloomed after it seemed to die just days earlier.
Businesses are finding new ways to attract and keep employees, as workers rethink how and where they work, and whether they want a 9-to-5 office job at all.
Californians are required to keep their biodegradable food scraps out of the landfill starting this year. Here’s how to do that in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.
Dr. Eduardo Ochoa will step down on July 31, after a decade as President of CSU Monterey Bay. In an interview with KAZU News, Ochoa discussed challenges and accomplishments of the last 10 years, and the importance of diversity on campus.
The fire started at 3 p.m. on Thursday, and is 50% contained at 101 acres as of Friday afternoon.
With California suffering a drought emergency, this year's fire season could be intense. A Cal Fire battalion chief tells us how to stay informed and prepared.
Nazir, his wife Samra, and their two children spent their first Fourth of July holiday in America this year. They escaped Afghanistan on that chaotic day last August, as the last U.S. troops withdrew and the Taliban took over. Their journey to the Monterey Peninsula was made possible by the kindness of strangers
Cynthia Mathews spent her career fighting for reproductive rights, and brought Planned Parenthood to Santa Cruz over 50 years ago.
On June 7th, Santa Cruz County voters will weigh in on the future of the rail corridor between Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Jack Brown of Yes Greenway speaks to KAZU News in support of Measure D.This is one of a three-part series on Measure D.
On June 7th, Santa Cruz County voters will weigh in on the future of the rail corridor between Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Mark Mesiti-Miller of No Way Greenway speaks to KAZU News in opposition to Measure D.This is one of a three-part series on Measure D.
On June 7th, Santa Cruz County voters will weigh in on the future of the rail corridor that runs between Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Guy Preston, the director of the county's transportation commission, answered some basic questions about railbanking and the future of the rail corridor.
Monterey Peninsula Voices celebrates its 60th anniversary this week. The diverse choral group of some 50 singers have just one thing in common: they are passionate about singing. In fact, except for a $195 member fee that goes to maintaining the group, a love of song is the only requirement to join. No experience is necessary.
Monterey Bay’s new professional soccer team is set to play its first home game May 7. The Monterey Bay Football Club, also known as the Union, is using a stadium built by the U.S. Army 70 years ago that sits at the entrance of what is now CSU Monterey Bay. The stadium was key to bringing professional soccer to the Monterey Peninsula.
Winemakers in California are facing another hot summer of drought and potential wildfire. When forests burn near California’s wine country, it’s not just the flames that threaten vineyards — it’s also the smoke, which can sully grapes on the vine that then produce ashy, bitter wine.Now, scientists in Santa Cruz are helping them confront that dilemma, with a unique approach that can sniff out the smoke in grapes. They say the results will allow winemakers to better predict whether grapes are worth harvesting or better left to rot.
Natalie Bathala, an astrophysicist at UC Santa Cruz, scans the stars in search of planets, including some that might support life. The recently launched James Webb Space Telescope will provide the clearest picture yet of these “exoplanets” that orbit stars beyond our solar system.
In late 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new program to dramatically speed up the state’s wildfire prevention work. But an investigation from CapRadio and The California Newsroom found the program hasn’t resulted in a single completed project.
As another dry summer looms for California, Santa Cruz city's small Loch Lomond reservoir is nearly full.
Many veterans who once lived at Fort Ord now suffer from cancer and other diseases. Martha Mendoza was one of three Associated Press journalists who revealed that exposure to toxic chemicals — including in the base’s drinking water — could be the cause of their sicknesses. And Fort Ord may not be alone.
A look at how the agricultural Pajaro Valley, located on the coast between Santa Cruz and Monterey, is handling the problem of seawater intrusion.
Nearly a decade ago, a massive blob of warm water formed off the U.S. West Coast, disrupting the ocean ecosystem. Among “the blob’s” many impacts, the region’s highly profitable crab fishery was forever changed. Scientists say extreme marine heatwaves will become more common due to climate change, leaving many in fishing communities, like those in the Monterey Bay region, struggling to adapt to the new uncertainty.
The Monterey Conference Center is still struggling to get back to where it was before the pandemic. As variant after variant sweeps across the world, the City of Monterey is trying to figure out the role of a 40,000 square-foot conference center in an increasingly virtual world.
Russia has signaled a new opportunity for diplomacy in Eastern Europe as the region continues to brace for possible war. Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta says one misstep could set it off.
Millions of Americans with disabilities face barriers to getting married. Tying the knot can mean losing the federal benefits they rely on.
The Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission is going to discuss strategies to preserve the North County rail corridor at its meeting Thursday morning. They include a contentious option that Roaring Camp Railroads says threatens its business.
A conversation with oceanographer Gary Griggs about the risk tsunamis pose to the Monterey Bay, and what do when the next one strikes.
Scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute discovered a fossilized mammoth tusk deep within the Monterey Bay, suggesting that other fossils might exist in the deep ocean. Science Journalist Annie Roth reported on the discovery, and speaks to us about the expedition and threats facing the deep sea and its creatures.
The volcanic eruption in Tonga flooded Santa Cruz harbor, prompted surfers to evacuate at Pleasure Point, and created dangerous conditions at beaches and along the Central Coast.
Pat Hathaway’s collection of thousands of photographs captures the photographic and visual history of early California, especially the Monterey area. It includes more than 80,000 original photographs and negatives, some dating back to the California Gold Rush.
A conversation with Marm Kilpatrick, who studies infectious diseases at UC Santa Cruz, about the Omicron variant, and the outlook of another year of the pandemic.
A tribute to Betty White, who was applauded for her TV performances and admired for her love of animals.
A Monterey baker who specializes in custom-made sugar cookies competed on the Food Network's Christmas Cookie Challenge.
The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and Indigenous leaders from across California are pushing to remove mission bell markers from across the state. The El Camino Real mission bells were installed along the network of roads that lead between the 21 missions in California.
Using images captured from drones equipped with high-resolution cameras, researchers at Elkhorn Slough are piecing together a picture of how humans have shaped the land over the last century, and how best to restore it.
One of Santa Cruz’s most populated homeless encampments flooded early this week, after torrential rain raised the San Lorenzo river over a foot in under 24 hours.
The number of monarch butterflies at Pacific Grove's monarch sanctuary hit a new low last year: zero. But overwintering sites in California have erupted with monarchs this year. KAZU's Erika Mahoney on the stunning comeback.
For 'The Artist Colony,' Fitzpatrick knew she wanted the novel to be a juicy whodunit. But the project became more personal when she decided to use the life of her aunt, Ada Belle Champlin, as inspiration.
For months, survivors of last year’s CZU fires in the Santa Cruz mountains have demanded the county ease the strict geological requirements that have stymied their ability to rebuild their homes. Earlier this month, the county announced a new pathway forward that aims to address their concerns.
The Carmel River has been the Monterey Peninsula’s primary source of water for more than a century. That will come to an end on Jan. 1, 2022. The State Water Resources Control Board has ordered the area’s private water utility, California American Water (Cal Am), to reduce its draws from the river by two-thirds of what it pumped a decade ago.
On Saturday, an offshore oil pipeline ruptured off the coast of Orange County. The pipeline, owned by Houston based Amplify Energy spilled an estimated 126 thousand gallons of crude oil into the Pacific. Authorities are still investigating the cause.
An important element in the nation’s cyber defense is located at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. The Center for Cyber Warfare conducts research and educates information warfare officers and military electrical and computer engineers to combat cyber attacks.
This is Homecoming Week at Aptos High School, with activities including a parade, a dance, dress-up days, and a football game on Friday night versus Seaside. But this year’s celebrations are tempered as the school community still struggles to come to grips with the stabbing on campus Aug. 31 that left a 17-year-old student dead and two other students, aged 14 and 17, charged with his murder.