http://news.santacruz.com/ Santa Cruz News: Local news and information for Santa Cruz CA constantly updated. http://www.santacruz.com/images/graphic_logo_city-name.gif http://www.santacruz.com/ en traci@santacruz.com Copyright 2009 2009-11-20T15:48:07+00:00 http://news.santacruz.com/2009/11/20/new_charter_school_proposed_for_watsonville /2009/11/20/new_charter_school_proposed_for_watsonville There may soon be a new charter school in Watsonville, the Escuela Xochitl Tonatiuh. The school, proposed by Teresa Robinson of Los Gatos, is planned for 85 students and would be intended to help middle-school students avoid getting involved in drugs and gang violence. News Traci Hukill Traci Hukill 2009-11-20T15:48:07+00:00 http://news.santacruz.com/2009/11/20/architect_sues_county_to_restore_planning_appeals_board /2009/11/20/architect_sues_county_to_restore_planning_appeals_board Last week, architect Cove Britton sued the county to restore a planning appeals board that was disbanded earlier this year after just a few meetings. News Traci Hukill Traci Hukill 2009-11-20T15:43:28+00:00 http://news.santacruz.com/2009/11/20/students_protest_at_ucsc /2009/11/20/students_protest_at_ucsc When UC’s Board of Regents met in UCLA yesterday to vote on a 32 percent fee hike for students, they gathered behind closed doors in a windowless room. News Traci Hukill Traci Hukill 2009-11-20T15:40:33+00:00 http://news.santacruz.com/2009/11/20/pajaro_water_agency_chief_resigns /2009/11/20/pajaro_water_agency_chief_resigns The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency lost the chair of its board yesterday with the sudden resignation of Dennis Osmer. He later compared the role of chair to that of a circus ringmaster, and noted one boardmember, John G. Eiskamp, as being particularly troublesome. News Traci Hukill http://news.santacruz.com/assets/news/images/dennisosmer.jpg Dennis Osmer left his post as head of the Watsonville area water agency. Traci Hukill 2009-11-20T15:35:33+00:00 http://news.santacruz.com/2009/11/19/burst_water_main_wreaks_havoc /2009/11/19/burst_water_main_wreaks_havoc A 2,000-gallon water leak on River Street brought traffic to a standstill yesterday at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 9. News Rula al-Nasrawi Rula al-Nasrawi 2009-11-19T19:07:42+00:00 http://news.santacruz.com/2009/11/19/ucsc_students_protest_tuition_hike /2009/11/19/ucsc_students_protest_tuition_hike Students at UCSC gathered yesterday with drums and bullhorns to protest the proposed new fee hike for students. With a decision by the UC Board of Regents looming today, tuition could be raised 32 percent—$2,500—over the next two years to help cover the system’s burgeoning deficit. As part of the protest, students blocked the campus gates for five hours yesterday to show their anger at the price hike. News Rula al-Nasrawi http://news.santacruz.com/assets/news/images/strike.jpg Students gather at the base of campus to protest. Photo by Brian Harker. Rula al-Nasrawi 2009-11-19T19:01:57+00:00 http://news.santacruz.com/2009/11/19/santa_cruz_launches_one-stop_site /2009/11/19/santa_cruz_launches_one-stop_site There’s a new website in Santa Cruz where residents can do everything from pay their parking tickets to apply for city jobs and find the nearest public restroom downtown. News Rula al-Nasrawi Rula al-Nasrawi 2009-11-19T18:53:47+00:00 http://news.santacruz.com/2009/11/19/a_snapshot_of_a_penny_university_meeting /2009/11/19/a_snapshot_of_a_penny_university_meeting Some snippets of conversation from the recent Penny University meeting at the Calvary Episcopal Church. Community Jessica Lussenhop Jessica Lussenhop 2009-11-19T11:06:38+00:00 http://news.santacruz.com/2009/11/19/ten_questions_for_noa_levin /2009/11/19/ten_questions_for_noa_levin Clothing designer Noa Levin shares her thoughts on what’s important, what’s really not, and how she realized a lifelong dream by coming to Santa Cruz. Community Rula al-Nasrawi http://news.santacruz.com/assets/news/images/_noa.JPG Rula al-Nasrawi 2009-11-19T10:47:44+00:00 http://news.santacruz.com/2009/11/19/reform_needed_in_the_court_system_regarding_child_custody /2009/11/19/reform_needed_in_the_court_system_regarding_child_custody When an Alabama superior court judge issued an order that Amanda Hodge’s two adopted children be returned immediately to her custody out of concern for their safety following a February, 2008 state-ordained forensic interview, the family court of Monterey County, where Hodge’s children were living with their adoptive father, declined to cooperate. Instead, the custody battle seemed only to swing further out of Hodge’s favor. She lost custody entirely, was granted supervised telephone calls only and has now not see her children in two years. News Alastair Bland http://news.santacruz.com/assets/news/images/0946_currents_2nd_pic_monningsized.jpg Assemblyman Bill Monning has voted to investigate the family court system. Alastair Bland 2009-11-19T10:47:32+00:00