Hi there, readers. It is Wednesday, Oct. 15, and the system that dropped nearly 3 inches of rain on some parts of Santa Cruz County has moved on, leaving a more settled pattern that should have us back to at least partly sunny skies and temperatures mostly in the 60s.
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Hillary Ojeda has the latest on the murder case against former Live Oak resident Leif Ames, with his trial in the 2020 stabbing death of friend Hubert Cross being postponed again Tuesday. “Your honor, no more delays, no more excuses,” Otilia Cross, Hubert Cross’ widow, told the judge in pleading for a trial to go forward. “We have carried this pain long enough.”
The number of homes for sale in Santa Cruz County dropped below the key threshold of 500 in September for the first time in months, Max Chun reports in his latest housing market update. But with the federal government shut down and other indicators of economic instability, local real estate professionals warn that uncertainty could weigh on the market in the coming months.
Tania Ortiz was on hand Tuesday night as the Watsonville City Council worked through a full agenda and has this update: After a tense back-and-forth discussion with a representative of the Monterey/Santa Cruz Building and Construction Trades Council, the council opted to move its conversation on whether to make amendments to the city’s project labor agreement ordinance to a special meeting on Nov. 5. The current ordinance determines pre-hire collective bargaining agreements for public works projects over $600,000, with city staff arguing that the ordinance affects the city’s ability to receive bids on certain projects. Check back with Lookout for in-depth coverage.
Tuesday also brought news that Watsonville Public House, a nonprofit craft brewery downtown, plans to close this weekend. As Lily Belli reports, owner and brewer Robby Olson cited financial strain from construction overruns and investors seeking to pull funding as reasons for shuttering the pub.
Let’s check those Wednesday headlines.
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Judge postpones murder trial for Leif Ames to Dec. 15
A Santa Cruz judge has postponed the long-delayed murder trial of Leif Ames to Dec. 15. Family members present at a Tuesday hearing told the judge they’ve waited too long for a trial. Hillary Ojeda has the latest.
➤ MORE COVERAGE: Nearly six years after being charged with murdering his friend, Leif Ames is out on bail and has yet to face a jury. How?
As weather cools, Santa Cruz County housing market shows signs of heating up
Santa Cruz County’s housing market largely stayed the course in September, with many houses on the market and plenty of sales closing. However, with trade tensions and the government shutdown lingering, real estate professionals say conditions could change rapidly. Max Chun has the numbers.
DAILY DIGEST
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Will McCahill