A statewide bill, proposing a ban on plastic shopping bags, was declined yesterday. Assembly Bill 19-98, which would’ve been the first statewide ban, received 14 votes in the Senate, 7 short of the majority it needed to pass. The bill called for the ban to take effect in supermarkets and large retail stores in 2012, and would have applied to smaller stores in 2013. Supporters of AB 19-98, say the 19-billion plastic bags people use every year harm the environment, and cost the state 25-million dollars annually to collect and transport to landfills. Legislators opposed it saying that it would add an extra financial burden on consumers and businesses.
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A 6 year-old child is still in critical condition, after he suffered a gunshot wound to his abdomen yesterday afternoon. The boy had reportedly found the shotgun under his parents’ bed, and when his 12 year-old brother tried to take it away, the gun went off. The parents, who were not home at the time, may face charges related to the 1st-degree criminal storage of a firearm.
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2 suspects were arrested after a 21-year Watsonville woman was beaten and robbed in the Santa Cruz Beach Flats area Sunday. The just before noon attack occurred on the 1-hundred block of Wave lane when the woman said a group of acquaintances robbed her of her personal belongings then punched and kicked her. 26-year old transient Andrew Jaquel, and 30-year old Rose Martinez were arrested on suspicion of robbery. Martinez, a Santa Cruz resident, was also arrested for allegedly possessing drugs.
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Over 5,000 homes and businesses between State Park Drive in Aptos and Old San Jose Road in Soquel, were without power for about 9 hours early this week. The outage, which started at 9 p.m Monday night, was restored yesterday morning at around 6 a.m. Officials say the outage appears to have been caused by a broken pole.
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