Santa Cruz County’s Department of Community Development & Infrastructure has launched a new dashboard for tracking and seeing the progress of repairs to county-maintained roads that have been damaged by severe storms over the past nine years.
briefs
Seniors will rally against Live Oak school bond issue
Representatives from local seniors organizations are rallying Thursday afternoon in Live Oak against a school district bond measure that would fund the development of workforce housing. They fear it will displace senior services. Live Oak School District is asking voters to approve the $45 million bond measure – Measure N – so it can develop 14 to 25 units of housing for district staff.
Capitola seeks ideas for strategic plan at community forum Tuesday
The City of Capitola will ask residents to weigh in on a strategic plan for the community at a public forum from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, in the Community Room at Capitola City Hall. City officials said they hope residents will “share their ideas for how they want Capitola to look and feel five years from now.” In addition to the in-person forum, the city is asking residents to complete an online survey, conducting stakeholder interviews, collecting data and asking residents to submit ideas online.
Parents warned after man charged with sex assault of minors he met on social media
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning Monday for local guardians and parents of minors to be aware of the dangers of social media after they arrested a 35-year-old Watsonville resident earlier this month on charges related to the sex assault of minors.
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta endorses ‘yes’ on Measure Q climate impact tax
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta has become the latest elected official to throw his weight behind Santa Cruz County’s Measure Q. The ballot measure would introduce a parcel tax of $87 to be collected annually and distributed across the county for a wide range of projects, from managing public lands and reducing wildfire risks to protecting drinking water sources.
First funds from opioid settlement will go to Santa Cruz County nonprofits
The Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency’s Behavioral Health Division and Community Foundation Santa Cruz County have announced the recipients of the first $810,000 of the $28 million that will flow into the county over the next 18 years as a result of a lawsuit against opioid distributors, manufacturers and pharmacies for their roles in the ongoing opioid addiction epidemic.
UC Santa Cruz graduate takes lead role in new Netflix film ‘Rez Ball’
Kauchani Bratt, who graduated from Cowell College with a philosophy degree, had no prior acting experience before “Rez Ball” – just a couple of acting classes he took at UCSC to fulfill requirements. The new Netflix film tells the story of a high school basketball team of rich Native American heritage in Chuska, New Mexico, striving to win a state championship.
Paving will cause Highway 1 delays near Aptos
A 4-mile paving project will cause delays on Highway 1 in southern Santa Cruz County over the next three weeks. There will be overnight ramp and lane closures at various locations from about a mile north of the bridge at Buena Vista Drive in Watsonville to the bridge at Rio Del Mar Boulevard in Aptos.
Santa Cruz Metro fares are free Wednesday for Clean Air Day
The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District will participate in California Clean Air Day by offering free fares throughout Santa Cruz County, including trips on the Highway 17 Express and ParaCruz, on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
Banana slug now official state slug, 1 of 3 new symbols
The banana slug is now the official state slug of California. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed three bills on Friday establishing three new state symbols. Joining the banana slug are the Dungeness crab and the shell of the black abalone, as state crab and seashell, respectively.

