IN THE CURRENT ISSUE OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE MAGAZINE, PUT OUT BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE DEMISE OF ORGANOPHOSPHATE INSECTICIDES AND RESEARCH FOR FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES IS DISCUSSED.
ORGANOPHOSPHATE INSECTICIDES ARE OFTEN ALSO TOXIC TO MANY NONTARGET SPECIES, INCLUDING HUMANS AND WILDLIFE, AND THEIR USES ARE BEING SEVERELY CURTAILED. SCIENTISTS CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE RANGE OF NUMEROUS REDUCED-RISK ALTERNATIVES. SOME INCLUDE THE USE OF PHEROMONES, WHICH ARE CHEMICALS SECRETED BY INSECTS FOR COMMUNICATION, WITH THE INTENT OF DISRUPTING INSECT MATING. THE RESULT WOULD BE A REDUCTION OF THE TARGET INSECT POPULATION. ALSO SCIENTISTS ARE LOOKING AT CULTURAL CONTROLS THAT MAKE THE CROP LESS PALATABLE TO PEST INSECTS, OR FINDING LESS TOXIC, MORE PEST-SPECIFIC ALTERNATIVE INSECTICIDES, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER OPTIONS.

A SANTA CRUZ MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO SPEND 9 YEARS BEHIND BARS AFTER HE WAS CONVICTED OF HOLDING HIS PARTNER LOCKED IN THEIR BEDROOM. HE ALSO WAS CONVICTED OF THREATENING AND INJURING THAT SAME WOMAN. HIS SENTENCE WAS ENHANCED BY 6 YEARS BECAUSE IN THE YEAR 2000 HE WAS CONVICTED OF ANOTHER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGE.

THE HIGH LEVEL GATES OF NACIMIENTO DAMN HAVE BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE THE RESERVOIR LEVELS HAVE RECEDED ENOUGH TO MEET STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS, ABOUT 1 THIRD OF THE RESERVOIR CAPACITY MUST BE RESERVED FOR A LARGE STORM.

AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES INCREASED AND TARGETED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT TODAY, IN THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ. THE B.A.D.G.E.S. ENFORCEMENT TEAMS ARE DIRECTING THEIR EFFORTS TOWARD MOTORISTS, BICYCLISTS, AND PEDESTRIANS WHO COMMIT COLLISION CAUSING VIOLATIONS IN THE CITY. THE B.A.D.G.E.S. ENFORCEMENT TEAM INCLUDES MEMBERS FROM THE SANTA CRUZ, WATSONVILLE, CAPITOLA, U.C.S.C., AND SCOTTS VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS THE C.H.P., AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.