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Joby Aviation debuts new Santa Cruz campus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:54 GMT

SANTA CRUZ — Fourteen years ago, an idea took flight in the Santa Cruz Mountains as a small team of seven engineers worked out of a barn to explore new technologies.These brainstorms gave way to a partnership with NASA to develop a electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which the team at Joby Aviation has been diligently working on for more than a decade. With a crew that has grown to more than 1,500 employees, that necessitated a move to a much larger space, which was secured last fall with a $25.5 million purchase of the Plantronics building at 345 Encinal St. To celebrate this acquisition, the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce, local elected officials and Joby employees presided over a ribbon-cutting and hosted tours of the new headquarters.Founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt told the Sentinel that the idea for the Joby aircraft stemmed from memories of commuting from the mountains just to attend Gateway School.“I loved where I went to school, and I loved where I ...

Southbound Highway 17 set for single-lane closure Wednesday, Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:54 GMT

SANTA CRUZ — Travelers moving southbound on Highway 17 will encounter a closure of the right lane from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, according to a Caltrans release.Related ArticlesTransportation | Beach traffic turns Highway 17 into a mess again: Roadshow Transportation | Four decades later, pain of Archbishop Mitty teacher being killed on Highway 17 lingers: Roadshow Transportation | Daytime lane closure on Highway 17 to take place Tuesday Transportation | San Francisco Opera comes to Los Gatos for lecture series The closure, meant to provide space for crews trimming and removing trees damaged in snow and rain storms this winter, stretches southbound from Vine Hill Road to just before the Glenwood Drive exit in Scotts Valley.According to the release, messaging and directional signs will be in place to alert travelers in the area who could experience up to 15 minute delays.

This bill would make it harder for California school boards to ban textbooks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:54 GMT

It would be harder to ban school textbooks in California if the state Legislature passes an Inland Assemblymember’s bill.Calling it a stand against “white Christian nationalist extremism,” Assemblymember Corey Jackson plans to amend one of his bills to require a supermajority vote by local school boards to ban textbooks.AB 1078 also would set up an appeals process for a book ban involving county boards of education. Introduced in February, the bill passed the Assembly May 30 by a 62-16 vote and is currently before the state Senate.Provisions requiring a supermajority and an appeals process aren’t currently in AB 1078, but that language will be added through amendments next week, said Daniel Peeden, a Jackson spokesperson.In a Tuesday press release, Jackson, D-Perris, noted the unfolding controversy over the Temecula Valley Unified School District board’s decision last month to block a history textbook because its supporting materials mentioned the late LGBTQ civil rights leader Harv...

Man accused of killing California cop 40 years ago goes on trial again

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:54 GMT

A man accused of killing a Los Angeles Police Department officer in a brazen, midday Lake View Terrace shooting 40 years ago is on trial once again, with prosecutors alleging an accomplice handed him the gun he used to shoot the officer to death, while his defense lawyer argued the accomplice was the only shooter.Prosecutors told the 12-member jury in a San Fernando courtroom on Tuesday, June 6 that Kenneth Earl Gay, now 65, shot LAPD motor officer Paul Verna five times as he lay on the ground the day of his killing.They said Gay took a handgun from Raynard Cummings, 64, of Pacoima, his alleged partner in a string of robberies in the area, after Cummings shot Verna once from inside their car.L.A. County Deputy District Attorney David Ayvazian described Gay and Cummings as “desperate, violent men” who were on parole at the time of the killing and who feared Verna would discover they were riding in a stolen car tied to their crime spree.He said they killed Verna because he “was a thre...

14-year-old boy charged in Californai burglary spree

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:54 GMT

A 14-year-old boy was charged with more than 20 counts, including 11 felony burglary counts, on suspicion of a burglary spree at several north Torrance businesses in April, officials said.The teen, who was not identified by authorities because he is a minor, is suspected of stealing a vehicle on April 27 and using it to commit a series of burglaries at 11 businesses in the city between 3:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., the Torrance Police Department said in a news release on Tuesday, June 6. The windows of the businesses were smashed to gain entry.The teen was later arrested in a neighboring city on suspicion of stealing a second vehicle to commit similar burglaries, police said. The city was not specified.The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office charged the teen with 22 felony counts. He also had a prior arrest, police said, but details about that arrest or what the other 11 counts involved were not provided.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Another FCI Dublin correctio...

Student allegedly raped by intruder in California university housing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:54 GMT

A Cal Poly Pomona student allegedly was raped by a male intruder who broke into her off-campus apartment and was still inside when police responded to the victim’s plea for help, university officials said Tuesday, June 6.The attack, which occurred around 7 p.m. Sunday at University Village, allegedly was committed by a man unaffiliated with Cal Poly Pomona and unknown to residents at the apartment complex, college spokesperson Cynthia Peters said in a statement.Following the attack, the victim called for help and responding Cal Poly Pomona police officers arrested the suspect inside the apartment, Peters said.Campus Police Chief Linh Dinh declined to release the suspect’s identity and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to requests for comment.Dinh also declined to explain how the suspect entered the victim’s apartment, which is a short walk from campus.Cal Poly Pomona police arrest logs indicate an individual was arrested Sunday night at University Vil...

Miss Manners: Whose fault is it that I sat on something wet and ruined my pants?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:54 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was riding in the passenger seat of my husband’s car and after a few minutes noticed something wet in my seat.It turns out I had sat on a packet of bleach disinfectant wipes and they had been leaking. This ruined my favorite pair of jeans.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: He’s my husband, not my brother, and why are you even asking? Advice | Miss Manners: Am I really being perverse not to have my DNA tested? Advice | Miss Manners: I made the mistake of sharing my manuscript with this colleague Advice | Miss Manners: How can I make a guest commit to her RSVP? Advice | Miss Manners: How am I supposed to plan a shower with all these gay friends? I am reminded of another time, when I was in my late teens or early 20s, and my mom jumped down my throat because I sat on her sunglasses in the car. In her frustration, she said, “Why can’t you look before you sit d...

‘Sweeney Todd’ slices and dices at Signature Theatre in Arlington

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:54 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews 'Sweeney Todd' at Signature Theatre (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); Watch out for bloody barber shears — the worst pies in London are coming to Shirlington, Virginia!Signature Theatre stages “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” running now through July 9.“It’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce this incredible story to the next g...

Profar leads Rockies against the Giants after 4-hit game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:54 GMT

San Francisco Giants (30-30, third in the NL West) vs. Colorado Rockies (26-36, fifth in the NL West)Denver; Wednesday, 8:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Logan Webb (4-6, 3.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 82 strikeouts); Rockies: Connor Seabold (1-2, 5.40 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 32 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Giants -206, Rockies +171; over/under is 11 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Rockies play the San Francisco Giants after Jurickson Profar had four hits against the Giants on Tuesday.Colorado has a 15-15 record in home games and a 26-36 record overall. Rockies hitters are batting a collective .259, which ranks fourth in the NL.San Francisco has a 30-30 record overall and a 13-15 record on the road. The Giants have an 18-8 record in games when they scored five or more runs.Wednesday’s game is the second meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Charlie Blackmon has 13 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 24 RBI for the Rockies. Ryan McMahon is 18-for-42 with fo...

Dodgers aim to break slide in game against the Reds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:54 GMT

Los Angeles Dodgers (35-26, second in the NL West) vs. Cincinnati Reds (28-33, third in the NL Central)Cincinnati; Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Dodgers: Noah Syndergaard (1-4, 6.54 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 35 strikeouts); Reds: Brandon Williamson (0-0, 4.29 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 18 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -164, Reds +140; over/under is 11 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers, on a three-game losing streak, play the Cincinnati Reds.Cincinnati is 16-17 in home games and 28-33 overall. The Reds have the fourth-best team on-base percentage in MLB play at .333.Los Angeles is 15-16 in road games and 35-26 overall. Dodgers hitters have a collective .460 slugging percentage to rank second in the NL.Wednesday’s game is the second time these teams match up this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Spencer Steer leads Cincinnati with eight home runs while slugging .493. Jonathan India is 11-for-42 with three home runs and 11 RBI over the past 10 games.Max Muncy has five dou...