Santa Cruz County Local Public Safety News Articles and Digest

Public Safety Elections & Politics Government

Protesters Expected Outside of Biden LA Fundraiser

12/08/2023
A large gathering of protesters sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinian people is expected outside a fundraiser Dec. 8 in Westwood for President Biden. Police have warned that any violence won’t be tolerated.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Public Safety Homelessness County of Santa Cruz

Overnight RV Parking Options Squeeze Further Across Santa Cruz County

12/05/2023
County leaders will seek state backing to install “no parking” signs for more than a mile outside Santa Cruz city limits along Highway 9. The move targets a stretch of state highway where vehicle pullouts serve as access points to wooded areas.

From The Mercury News...

Public Safety Health Crime & Justice

Stolen Blue Shield of California Data Could Hit Dark Web

12/01/2023
Hackers stole data this week from Blue Shield of California. Historically, this type of data has sometimes wound up for sale on what’s known as the dark web, the part of the internet not typically included in search engine results.

From Capital & Main...

Public Safety Education Families & Children Government

Right-Wing Takeover of SoCal School Board Stirs Angst

12/01/2023
Students and teachers alike are decrying the actions of the Temecula Valley Unified School District board, which became conservative in majority following the recent elections of three members. The board’s actions include banning critical race theory and mandating parental notification if their child is transgender.

From SFGate...

Public Safety Environment Health

Sewage Spill Closes Southern California Beach

11/29/2023
Two miles of public beach were closed in Laguna Beach following a spill of 94,500 gallons of sewage. Orange County is testing water to determine when the beach will be safe to reopen.

From Good Times...

Public Safety Sustainability

Our Potentially Explosive Future

11/28/2023
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The chemistry behind lithium batteries could cause spontaneous fires.

From New York Times...

Public Safety Health Government

More Migrants Getting Hurt Climbing Border Wall in California

11/27/2023
Seven times as many patients have been admitted to the trauma unit at UC San Diego Health since the Trump administration raised the height of the border wall to 30 feet in California. The hospital also notes that 23 people have died in falls from the wall since 2019.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Public Safety Education

UC Santa Cruz Researchers Build AI to Prevent Drownings

11/26/2023
Alex Pang and Fahim Hasan Khan are working on algorithms that can monitor shoreline change, identify rip currents, and alert lifeguards of potential hazards.

From Press Banner...

Public Safety Education Scotts Valley Fire District

Scotts Valley Education Tax Easily Clears Bar, as Fire Hall Funding Hangs in the Balance

11/16/2023
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The tax to raise money for public education sailed to success as nearly a third of Scotts Valley voted, but a tax for a new fire hall hung in the balance.

From New York Times...

Public Safety Crisis & Personal Support Government

Why It’s Taken So Long for the Golden Gate Bridge to Get a Protective Barrier

11/14/2023
Workers are in the final stages of a long, $217 million project: Install a protective barrier at the Golden Gate Bridge. Roughly 2,000 people have died by suicide jumping from the bridge since it opened in 1937.

From CalMatters...

Public Safety Environment Community Service & Support Government

Families Struggle to Pay Power Bills, but California Regulators May Hike Prices

11/14/2023
Millions of people across the state struggle to pay electric bills as California regulators decide on proposed rate increases. PG&E wants a rate hike to bolster the safety and reliability of its services.

From CalMatters...

Public Safety Education Elections & Politics Government

Backlash Politics: How Conservatives Have Success Rolling Back California Progressivism

11/14/2023
Lacking power at the state level, conservatives are leaning into local governance to protest California’s progressive politics. The fight in Huntington Beach could be a harbinger of what’s to come.

From The Guardian...

Public Safety

WW2-Era Southern California Blimp Hangar Destroyed by Fire

11/07/2023
Tustin Air Base was destroyed Nov. 7 in a raging fire that could last for days. Authorities said letting the 1942 hangar collapse was the only way to contain the fire.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Business, Economy & Jobs Public Safety

Lofgren, Padilla Introduce Bill to Increase Overtime Pay Cap for Wildland Firefighters

11/02/2023
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Zoe Lofgren introduced the bicameral Wildland Firefighter Fair Pay Act to increase overtime pay caps to allow U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior firefighters to receive higher compensation for their service.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Public Safety

Measure W Would Relocate Scotts Valley Fire Headquarters

10/30/2023
Voters have just one week left to weigh in on funding the proposed relocation of a community fire station. The $22.2 million Measure W bond would fund construction of a new Scotts Valley Fire Protection District firehouse on La Madrona Drive.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Public Safety Transportation

Pedestrian Beacons Activated on Mission Street in Santa Cruz

10/22/2023
The safety lights, known as pedestrian hybrid beacons, were set up along Mission Street at Olive Street and Berkshire Avenue and facilitate pedestrian crossing at higher-speed roadways, midblock crossings and uncontrolled intersections.

From Good Times...

Public Safety Resilience County of Santa Cruz

The County Prepares for Rainy Winter

10/19/2023
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County supervisors hear about the most recent efforts to prepare for winter storms.

From Santa Cruz Local...

Public Safety Water Resilience County of Santa Cruz

Flood Risks Remain Despite Recent River Work in Santa Cruz County

10/18/2023
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Plus: County leaders discuss emergency plans, money for commissioners.

From Santa Cruz Local...

Public Safety Education Elections & Politics Scotts Valley Fire District

Ballots for Scotts Valley Schools, Fire District Elections Due Oct. 24 and Nov. 7

10/18/2023
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School and fire leaders explain plans to voters.

From Monterey Herald...

Public Safety Sustainability State of California

Governor Signs Sen. Laird Bill Prompted by Moss Landing Fire

10/11/2023
Legislation that was created in response to fire breaking out in 2022 at the Elkhorn Battery Energy Storage System facility was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Santa Cruz County Local News: Public Safety