Good morning, one and all. Wednesday, Jan. 28, has arrived, with patchy morning fog in some spots around Santa Cruz County before a day of mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s – and 70s in the forecast as we head toward the weekend.
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The current chapter of the ongoing Murray Street Bridge retrofit project comes to a close Wednesday, with Max Chun reporting that the City of Santa Cruz will reopen the span’s eastbound lane – from Seabright toward 7th Avenue – to vehicle and bike traffic, with pedestrian access in both directions.
Jessica M. Pasko has her weekly look at Santa Cruz County business, reporting that Ambient Photonics, a Scotts Valley company whose solar cells showed promise for reducing the need for single-use batteries in electronic devices, has closed – with one investor pointing to tariffs, which made the cost of importing materials and equipment prohibitively expensive.
The longtime leader of the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County is retiring, Cecilia Schutz reports. Under Karen Delaney’s leadership, the Volunteer Center transformed from a grassroots organization to one of the largest such centers in the nation, currently managing 19 programs, including the mental health and restorative justice divisions.
The Wednesday headlines also include supervisors forming a subcommittee to prepare for the possible impacts of immigration enforcement on Santa Cruz County residents – let’s take a look at it all.
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City to reopen eastbound lane of Murray Street Bridge on Wednesday afternoon
The City of Santa Cruz is scheduled to reopen the Murray Street Bridge’s eastbound lane on Wednesday afternoon. It will restore traffic for vehicles and bicycles from the Seabright neighborhood toward 7th Avenue and two-way access for pedestrians. Details here from Max Chun.
Lights out for Ambient Photonics’ pioneering solar cell technology amid funding shortfalls
Ambient Photonics’ low-light solar cell technology showed great promise for helping reduce reliance on single-use batteries in electronic devices. The company chose Scotts Valley for its headquarters and manufacturing facility, even as many technology companies were moving their production facilities overseas. Despite promising deals with major consumer electronics producers, the company fell short on funding and had to fold. Jessica M. Pasko reports.
DAILY DIGEST
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Thanks for reading – now get out there and show Wednesday who’s boss.
Will McCahill