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The Department of Motor Vehicles will be closed this Friday in an effort to reduce state spending. All services, including making payments for vehicle registration and driver’s license revewals, filing a change of address and scheduling appointments, will be available online by going to www.dmv.ca.gov. Automated services are also available by calling 1-800-777-0133.
Reimbursement is being sought from contractors after a leaky air conditioning unit flooded the north wing of the Monterey County Courthouse. A forensic expert will be hired to determine the cause of the flood, and to make sure it doesn't recur. No contractors have claimed responsibility for the flood, which damaged 3 floors of the courthouse. It is expected to cost about 8-hundred-thousand-dollars to repair the damages.
In a move that would be the first of its kind in Santa Cruz County, the Watsonville City Council passed an ordinance that will require retailers to secure an annual license to sell cigarettes. The unanimously approved ordinance will require Watsonville retailers to pay 2-hundred-and-fifty-five dollars per year to sell tobacco products. The fee is expected to generate over 15 thousand dollars annually for the city.
As part of a cost saving move, Santa Cruz County offices will be closed this Friday. One Friday a month for the next year and for a week at the end of December, County offices will be closed as part of 15 planned furlough days. Some Santa Cruz County Superior Court offices and services will be closed during the county furlough days. The Watsonville courthouse will be closed, however, the clerk’s offices at the Santa Cruz courthouse, at 701 Ocean Street, will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., while a drop-box will be available until 5 p.m. on furlough days.
New data released yesterday in California shows an increase in students passing the high school exit exam required for graduating. Almost 420-thousand students, that’s about 94.5% of seniors in the Class of 2010, passed the exam, which focuses on Math and English skills. That number is up from 93.4% last year and 90.4% in 2006, the 1st year seniors were required to pass the exam. In Santa Cruz County, slightly more sophomores passed the exit exam last year than the year prior, 82% passed the English portion and 81% passed the math test portion. Meanwhile, in Monterey County, 78% of 10th graders passed the math portion and 75% of the sophomores passed the English portion of the test.