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By Sharan Street
Published Sep 12, 2022

9-12-22: Fair Weather Ahead

As inland California sweltered in a triple-digit heat wave, folks on the coast glistened in above-average but still tolerable temperatures. But another wave hit Santa Cruz: surging traffic headed over Highway 17 toward the beaches. It’s not the heat, it’s the humanity.

This week, if you look at the five-day forecast on California Local’s Santa Cruz County Weather overview, temperatures are dropping back to a civilized 74 degrees—just in time for the Santa Cruz County Fair, billed this year as “a country fair with ocean air.” Running from Sept. 14-18, this annual event should ensure a steady flow of traffic heading south down Highway 1. If you’re going, check out the road conditions on our Santa Cruz County Traffic & Transportation overview.

Aside from cover bands, cotton candy and carnival rides, there are many pleasures to be found at the county fair—an American tradition that celebrates the spectrum of human endeavor, from the practical to the artistic. But at its heart, the county fair is tied to agriculture and animal husbandry, with copious displays of hens and rabbits, ripened tomatoes and enormous gourds, splashy dahlias and unblemished roses. It’s sheer delight for anyone who loves plants and animals.


Hotheads and Homicides

During September’s heat wave, Sacramento surpassed a heat record set in 1925 while other records fell around the state. But in addition to temperatures, tempers are also rising. Jon Vankin reports on how a wave of public government meeting disruptions inspired a new law designed to help officials restore order, and why homicide rates are trending higher in some parts of California.


Why Are Murder Rates High in Some Republican Counties?

Donald Trump greets Kevin McCarthy (R-CA 23) whose district includes two of California’s highest murder-rate counties.
Homicide rates remain high in some of California's most Republican, Trump-voting counties. Are law-and-order policies against crime a bust? Here’s why political voting patterns are a strong indicator of violent crime in states and counties.

New California Law Aims to End Public Meeting Disruptions

Supporters of Donald Trump have been behind a series of disruptions and threats at local government meetings.
A wave of public government meeting disruptions by right-wing groups often inspired by Donald Trump has inspired a new law designed to help officials restore order to the process of running local government.


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