School arts funding bill among seven propositions on Nov. 8 ballot
In 2008, as the economic recession was ravaging communities nationwide, school districts were forced to take a close look at their budgets, and in many cases make massive cuts to preserve the meat of their programs.
The first casualties of this across-the-board slashing were often...
CHP: DUI suspect struck Capitola police officer
CAPITOLA—A Santa Cruz man was arrested Saturday for felony DUI after allegedly striking a police officer riding a motorcycle, California Highway Patrol Officer Sam Courtney said.
Kolton Matosich, 29, was charged with felony DUI. He was not in custody Monday morning, jail records showed.
According to...
Multiple local pilots hit in recent laser strikes
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville pilots, and the city’s municipal airport, are asking for help after several aircraft were struck by laser light.
The phenomenon, known as laser strikes, occurs when someone on the ground points a laser light at a pilot.
It is a federal offense, with five years...
Santa Cruz County Covid-19 cases see largest jump to date
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County on Monday saw its largest single-day jump, 20, in Covid-19 cases since the virus started its spread along the Central Coast in early March.
The case spike increases the county’s active cases to 100, and raises its total case count...
Supervisors approve Live Oak housing project, ban no-fault evictions until 2020
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a proposal to sell a property in Live Oak, and a plan to develop it into an affordable housing project that will include a dental and a medical clinic.
MidPen Housing, which is purchasing...
Capitola Library set for summertime opening
CAPITOLA—Work is moving forward on the Capitola Branch Library on the busy corner of Clares Street at Wharf Road.
Currently, workers are installing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems overhead and in-wall, said Megan Blackwell, marketing manager for Otto Construction, the general contractor for the job.
Over...
County’s budget cuts to Sheriff’s Office eased
SANTA CRUZ— The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an $874 million budget for the coming year that includes cuts and position reductions to every department in the county.
According to County Budget Manager Christina Mowrey, the reductions include furloughs of 5-10%,...
Suspected jewelry store burglar arrested
APTOS — Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday arrested a man thought to be responsible for at least one burglary from a business in the area of Aptos and Capitola.
State apologizes to Japanese Americans for imprisonment
SACRAMENTO—Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation Thursday declaring Feb. 19, 2020, as A Day of Remembrance: Japanese American Evacuation in the State of California.
Starting in 1942 roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans were rounded up and held at 10 “internment camps” during World War II over...
County Supervisors ban ‘discriminatory reports’ to law enforcement
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance that prohibits so-called “discriminatory reports” to law enforcement, and allows victims to seek financial compensation when it happens to them.
Discriminatory reporting was brought to public light in 2020, when...
