Jerimiah Oetting
News DirectorJerimiah Oetting is KAZU’s news director. Prior to his career in public media, he was a field biologist with the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service.
His work brought him to eight western states in less than a decade. In that short time, he experienced natural disasters wrought by climate change, and the intense battles between industry and conservation playing out in small towns. In short, he witnessed unfolding stories from a swiftly changing world. His desire to tell those stories led him to the UC Santa Cruz Science Communication Program, where he graduated in 2020
Jerimiah loves stories that capture the many ways life fights to persist on this pale blue dot. When he’s not reporting on the changing planet, he’s probably out somewhere enjoying it.
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The union representing city workers reached a new tentative agreement with the city, ending the three-day strike.
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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.
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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.
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The fire started July 21 at 3 p.m. and is now 85% contained at 104 acres as of July 25.
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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.
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Cynthia Mathews spent her career fighting for reproductive rights, and brought Planned Parenthood to Santa Cruz over 50 years ago.
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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 spoke with KAZU News in opposition to Measure D.This is one of a three-part series on Measure D.
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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 spoke with KAZU News in support of Measure D.This is one of a three-part series on Measure D.
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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.This is one of a three-part series on Measure D.
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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.