Elena Neale-Sacks
Reporter/Producer, California Local News FellowElena is an Emmy award-winning researcher, reporter, and producer. At KAZU, they cover agriculture, housing and homelessness, and the aftermath of the January 2025 lithium battery fire in Moss Landing. Their reporting and research has been featured on NPR, KQED, Netflix, Reveal, CalMatters, and more. Elena is an alum of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and UC Santa Cruz. They live in Santa Cruz.
When they aren't reporting, chances are they're either playing ultimate frisbee, hiking, camping, board gaming, or hanging out with their cat Cheddar.
Email: elena@kazu.org
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The Santa Lucia Conservancy is training a local workforce focused on reducing wildfire risk, Santa Cruz County expands language services ahead of the June 2 primary election, a retired Navy commander who started a volunteer otter monitoring project, and more in this week's local news roundup. -
How a volunteer otter monitoring project changed scientists’ understanding of the animals.
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Santa Cruz County expands language services ahead of the June 2 primary election. And, a bill moving through the California legislature aims to ensure new education programs—like transitional kindergarten—deliver on their promises. -
The Santa Lucia Conservancy works to train up a local workforce focused on reducing wildfire risk on the Central Coast. And, primary election candidates in Santa Cruz County discuss their plans for housing. -
The farm bill cleared the House of Representatives with little Democratic support, the Marina Coast Water District reactivates a desalination plant, how climate change affects California's native trees, and more in this week's local news roundup. -
Central Coast Democratic Congressman Jimmy Panetta explains why he voted against the farm bill on Thursday. And, a state bill would offer safeguards for immigrant professors at California community colleges. -
A U.S. Department of Agriculture judge ruled that the agency erred when it terminated a Cal State Monterey Bay grant last year. And, a preview of May Day events on the Central Coast.
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In this week's episode: environmental activist julia butterfly hill comes to Santa Cruz on Sunday, libraries across Monterey Bay celebrate National Library Week, the City of Marina rings in two decades of Earth Day festivities. -
Monterey County supervisors move forward with an oversized vehicle ban along two streets in Pájaro—kind of. And, a plant sale at UC Santa Cruz this weekend. -
In this week's episode, foodbanks are asking for state funding, commercial fishing will open next month, local advocates mark Black Maternal Health Week, and more.
