Good morning! It’s Tuesday, Dec. 24, otherwise known as Christmas Eve.
The extreme weather continues today, with the National Weather Service warning that huge waves reaching up to 60 feet could strike the coast. A flood warning in effect through noon and a high surf warning will last until around 6 p.m. Santa Cruz County can also expect to see rain through the rest of the week into Monday, along with a chance of thunderstorms today.
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Santa Cruz County is mopping up from the huge swells that caused a portion of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf to collapse, damaged the city’s small craft harbor and forced the evacuation of parts of Rio Del Mar and Capitola Village. Correspondents Max Chun and Hillary Ojeda have all the details from Monday’s wild ride, while photojournalist Kevin Painchaud brings you photos and videos from across the county.
Tania Ortiz gives you a front row to a performance by the Watsonville dance group Estrellas de Esperanza as it helps connect young people to their Mexican heritage through the vibrant tradition of ballet folklórico.
And in Community Voices, public health researchers James Krieger and Jennifer Falbe explain how Santa Cruz’s soda tax victory could spark a wave of similar measures across California, despite an aggressive $1.8 million lobbying campaign to defeat it.
Let’s dive into today’s big stories:
Portion of Santa Cruz wharf collapses, harbor damaged and parts of Capitola Village flooded amid huge swells
A section of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed Monday, plunging three construction workers into 25-foot swells. At least nine people were rescued countywide as authorities evacuated parts of Capitola Village and Rio Del Mar for flooding and closed several beaches because of dangerous conditions.
Santa Cruz and Berkeley sweetened-drink taxes — victory for health and democracy, defeat for Big Soda
Measure Z was a big win for Santa Cruz, California, public health and democracy, write James Krieger and Jennifer Falbe, researchers from the University of Washington and UC Davis who have evaluated sweetened drink taxes in the Bay Area and Seattle. By beating Big […]
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In the meantime, seasons greetings to you and yours.
Tamsin McMahon