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State bill sets stage for new mental health crisis hotline

By Stephen Baxter|2021-11-03T14:12:39-07:00May 13, 2021|Tags: 911, AB988, Mark Stone, mental health, mental health crises, police, police funding, police reform, Santa Cruz Local Police Reform Series, Santa Cruz Police Department, Scotts Valley Police Department, Stephen Baxter, Watsonville police, Watsonville Police Department|

Police reform series: Non-police responses targeted by Santa Cruz County group

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Train project slows with lack of planning money

By Stephen Baxter|2021-05-07T14:07:20-07:00May 7, 2021|Tags: light rail, rail, rail corridor, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, transportation|

Reports need $17 million, ‘timeout’ called

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Capitola projects, services gain steam

By Stephen Baxter|2021-05-14T20:18:02-07:00May 6, 2021|Tags: budget, Capitola City Council, City of Capitola, Coronavirus|

Improved budget could help speed permits, wharf repairs, youth program

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Santa Cruz County train vote: Factors to consider

By Stephen Baxter|2021-05-06T11:31:22-07:00May 4, 2021|Tags: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, train, Watsonville City Council|

Supporters urge long view, opponents point to missing money

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Map: COVID-19 test sites in Santa Cruz County

By Kara Meyberg Guzman, Stephen Baxter, Patrick Riley and Allison Gasparini|2022-12-16T17:37:18-08:00April 1, 2021|Tags: City of Watsonville, Coronavirus, health, Kara Meyberg Guzman, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, Stephen Baxter|

Symptoms or potential exposure? Get tested, health officials say

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Data special: Trends in Watsonville crime, police work, funding

By Stephen Baxter|2021-04-02T18:37:53-07:00April 1, 2021|Tags: City of Watsonville, Jenny Sarmiento, Law enforcement, police funding, police reform, Santa Cruz Local Police Reform Series, Tom Sims, Watsonville Ad-Hoc Committee on Policing and Social Equity, Watsonville police|

City committee looks for law enforcement improvements

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Podcast: Were some COVID deaths preventable at Santa Cruz County senior homes?

By Stephen Baxter|2022-05-03T09:44:44-07:00March 23, 2021|Tags: Coronavirus, COVID, COVID-19, David Ghilarducci, Gail Newel, housing, nursing homes, preventable deaths, Santa Cruz health, senior care, vaccine, vaccine rollout, water|

Plus: Does new housing mean more water demand?

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Public defender overhaul advances in Santa Cruz County

By Stephen Baxter|2021-03-23T19:31:39-07:00March 23, 2021|Tags: Bruce McPherson, Greg Caput, Manu Koenig, Ryan Coonerty, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, Santa Cruz County public defender's office, Santa Cruz County Superior Court, Zach Friend|

Transition means county-employee defense attorneys by July 2022

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Shared data, goals in Santa Cruz County’s plan for homeless

By Stephen Baxter|2021-03-11T10:40:35-08:00March 10, 2021|Tags: Bruce McPherson, homeless, housing, Manu Koenig, Randy Morris, Robert Ratner, Ryan Coonerty, Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County Supervisors, Zach Friend|

Supervisors question county parks, other land for shelter and services

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County land for temporary housing included in homeless proposal

By Stephen Baxter|2021-03-11T10:40:36-08:00March 6, 2021|Tags: homelessness, Manu Koenig, Ryan Coonerty, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors|

Supervisors to consider 3-year plan to reduce number of unhoused

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Capitola council targets partnerships with Scotts Valley, school district

By Stephen Baxter|2021-03-11T10:44:06-08:00February 26, 2021|Tags: Capitola City Council, City of Capitola, City of Scotts Valley, Government, Jacques Bertrand, Kristen Petersen, Margaux Keiser, parking, Sam Storey, Soquel Union Elementary School District, youth sports, Yvette Lopez Brooks|

City leaders choose budget priorities

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Two apartment projects approved in Watsonville

By Stephen Baxter|2021-03-11T10:49:26-08:00February 24, 2021|Tags: City of Watsonville, density bonus, development, housing, Jimmy Dutra, Watsonville City Council|

Dozens of units to be added to Main Street, Freedom Boulevard