Happy Friday everyone,
Hope you all have a relaxing weekend ahead of you and stay as dry as possible. Today, we’ll have a mix of cloudy skies and rainy weather, with highs in the low-60s.
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When Hillary Ojeda tried to determine whether Santa Cruz saw record-breaking heat in March, she learned the National Weather Service can’t say for sure, because a 130-year-old volunteer-run weather system stopped running in 2022. She then went down a rabbit hole that involved the NWS’s data collection techniques, the role of backyard weather trackers, and if missing the data means much at all.
Lily Belli checks in from Dharma’s restaurant in Capitola, which has been struggling with financial issues and declining business. When it announced it could close, customers filled the tables right away, but owner Yogi Shapiro is still working to adjust prices and the business model to keep the business afloat.
Tania Ortiz reports the City of Watsonville will hold two town halls to allow community input on a proposal to move convicted rapist Michael Cheek into a city motel. The first will take place at 5:30 p.m., Monday, at Cesar Chavez Middle School, and the second will be held at 5:30 p.m., April 20, at Starlight Elementary School.
Now, for the headlines…
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Did Santa Cruz have record-breaking heat last month? NWS meteorologists can’t say after 130-year-old weather station stopped running in 2022
National Weather Service meteorologists say they cannot determine whether Santa Cruz set heat records during last month’s extreme temperatures because a 130-year-old volunteer-run climate station — the only site meeting strict long-term data standards — stopped operating in 2022, leaving a gap in the […]
A call for help brings diners back to Dharma’s, but long-term challenges remain
After years of mounting costs and declining business, longstanding vegetarian restaurant Dharma’s in Capitola warned it could close, prompting an immediate surge of community support that filled tables and boosted short-term revenue. As owner Yogi Shapiro prepares to take over from his father, he’s […]
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Enjoy your weekend, and we’ll be back Monday!
Max Chun
