Hear KUSP Reportsduring Morning Edition and All Things Considered. KUSP reporters cover news and cultural events in the Monterey Bay region.
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The Future of Fighting Crime? September 30 | Sean Rameswaram • There’s a new, still mostly experimental tool in the world of crime prevention. It’s called predictive
policing. It may sound like a thing of the future, but it’s real and it’s being used right now in the
city of Santa Cruz. By punching data into a computer program, the city’s police department says it has
been able to reduce crime. KUSP’s Sean Rameswaram went for a ride-along in the passenger seat of a police cruiser to find out
more.
Santa Cruz County's Open Studios Begins Oct. 1 September 29 | Maureen Davidson • The Santa Cruz County Cultural Council's Open Studios event takes place over the first three weekends in October. Maureen Davidson offers a look at the preview exhibit at the Santa cruz Art League.
Humans' Effects on Fresh Water September 26 | Anne Turner • Alex Prud'homme's "Ripple Effect" offer valuable perspective on the water supply issues that will affect the 21st century.
UC Says System Remains Accessible to Public September 26 | Sean Rameswaram • Ricardo Vázquez of the University of California discusses student fees past and future, plus whether or not California's prized public university system remains open to the public.
Santa Cruz County Bans Plastic Bags September 15 | Sean Rameswaram • Love them or hate them, plastic bags are going to get a lot less use in the unincorporated parts of Santa Cruz County beginning next year. A fee on paper bags is coming to restaurants and grocery stores, too.
Sonny Landreth Slides into the Monterey Bay Area September 15 | Eric Berg • Louisiana bluesman Sonny Landreth is something of a virtuoso when it comes to slide guitar. Some say his playing sounds a lot like an emoting human. He plays this weekend in Santa Cruz.
What Does It Take For A Restaurant To Go Green? September 8 | Sean Rameswaram • Charlie Hong Kong is a Santa Cruz fast food restaurant that has made a number of moves to run as green an operation as possible. It recently won an award from a local environmental advocacy group for doing so. But is Charlie Hong Kong’s model practical for any restaurant? Photo: Charlie Hong Kong co-owner Carolyn Rudolph shows off her Save Our Shores ‘Business of the Year’ award in front of the her restaurant. By Sean Rameswaram Visit KUSP Reports Environment site
Should The Public Goods Charge Stay Or Should It Go? September 6 | Sean Rameswaram • Lawmakers in Sacramento are currently debating whether or not to continue charging Californians a fee that goes toward research on green technology. Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird says it's worthwhile.
Mix
It Up - Mixed Media Show Lets
the Creative Juices Flow September 1 | Maureen Davidson • September
fourth is the last day for the Santa
Cruz Art League's juried show of mixed
media work. Mix It Up includes a range
of creations from more traditional two-dimensional
collage to large scale found-art sculptures.
Arts Writer Maureen notes the themes
in the show are as various as the media
they consist of.
EPA Settles Methyl Bromide Complaint, Leaves Complainants Out Of Discussion August 31 | Sean Rameswaram • Fumigation
season is approaching on the Central
Coast and foes of methyl iodide are
ramping up the campaign to have the
known carcinogen banned. They're taking
their case to court and to Governor
Jerry Brown via Facebook.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency has made a landmark decision regarding the use of methyl iodide's predecessor methyl bromide: The EPA found that Latino schoolchildren on the Central Coast and in Ventura County were exposed to the toxic pesticide at a greater level than their peers.
Some say the settlement is historic: The EPA has never before confirmed "adverse disparate impact" on a community in a civil rights case. But others say justice was stymied in the name of a toothless settlement that quickly closed out a complicated case. Photo courtesy of Flickr user benketaro Visit KUSP Reports Environment site
Crossroads:
Clarksdale, Mississippi August
31 | Eric Berg • More than 70 years
ago, a spot in Mississippi became a part
of the lore of America when Robert
Johnson recorded "Cross roads blues." KUSP
Music Reporter Eric Berg traveled there
this year on a search for the Johnson's
fabled crossroads. Photo by Eric
Berg. See more at
Eric Berg's blog.
Crossroads:
Part 2 September 1 | Eric Berg • There are conflicting accounts of where Robert Johnson's "cross roads" were. This summer KUSP music reporter Eric Berg travelled to Mississippi to find the precise spot. What he found was a music scene that has fundamentally changed since the time of Johnson, Bessie Smith and other blues pioneers.Photo by Eric
Berg. See more at
Eric Berg's blog.
Exhibits
at SC's MAH Not Just Hands Off August 25 | Maureen Davidson • Santa
Cruz's Museum of Art and History has
a new director, Nina Simon. Simon is
the writer of the blog “Museum 2.0" which
emphasizes directly engaging museum goers.
She's taking the museum in a new direction.
Visitors are no longer limited to looking
at the exhibits. Photo by J.D. Hillard
Rep. Farr Says Collaboration Is The Path To Jobs, Better Government August 18 | Sean Rameswaram • Rep. Sam Farr of California's 17th congressional district discusses the path to job creation and a healthy economy. He hopes to see increased collaboration after a series of crippling impasses in the federal government. Photo by Steve Laufer
August 18 | Eric Berg • Blues guitarist Duke Robillard is coming through Santa Cruz. So is Grammy Award winning Afro-Peruvian songstress Susana Baca. KUSP's Eric Berg is going to be busy. Photo courtesy of Flickr user flykr
Santa Cruz Supervisor John Leopold Says Redevelopment Agencies Are Worth Saving August 12 | Sean Rameswaram • California has some 400 redevelopment agencies and many of them may soon have to shut down. Santa Cruz Supervisor John Leopold tells KUSP why cities and counties across the state are doing everything they can to keep the agencies around.
The Monterey Bay’s Endangered Neighbors August 5 | Sean Rameswaram • The Monterey Bay area is home to a number of endangered species. Local photographer Sebastian Kennerknecht spent the last 4 years of his life taking photos of them. He hopes his artful images will compel people to take action and help conserve species’ habitat. He gave KUSP’s Sean Rameswaram a tour of Endangered Neighbors, a collection of his work showing now at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Photo courtesy of Sebastian Kennerknecht Visit KUSP Reports Environment site Visit the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Smart Meters Discussed at Louden Nelson Center August 4 | Ken Burson • Santa Cruz County residents met at Santa Cruz's Louden Nelson Center to discuss concerns about PGE's Smart Meters. This is 1 hour 41 minutes of that meeting.
Farr Votes Against Debt Compromise August 2 | J.D. Hillard • A few minutes after casting his own vote on the federal debt ceiling compromise August first, Congressman Sam Farr said that while liberals might dislike the agreement, it was not a complete victory for spending hawks.
Two Composers From Cabrillo Music Festival August 1 | Robert Pollie • Two composers coming to the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music demonstrate once again how outmoded that term “classical music" is. Elena Kats-Chernin, who grew up in Russia and now lives in Australia, is a joyous musical pluralist, cozy with modernism, minimalism, tango, ragtime and pop. Also on the bill that night will be Behzad Ranjbaran who was born in Iran, and talked with Robert Pollie about the echoes of Persian folk music in his concerto and other compositions. Robert Pollie will also anchor the KUSP's special LIVE broadcast this Friday night starting at 7 pm. KUSP's broadcast schedule / Cabrillo Festival website.
Cooling Coast, Warming Inland? July 29 | Sean Rameswaram • Global warming means that temperatures across the globe are on the rise, right? Well, maybe not entirely. Some recently released numbers suggest that California’s coast may actually be cooling over time becauseof warming temperatures inland. Photo courtesy of NOAA Visit KUSP Reports Environment site
Citizens Commission Redraws California's Legislative Lines July 22 | Sean Rameswaram • California voters chose to have fellow citizens redraw legislative lines back in 2008. Now, we’re about to see the result of Proposition 11. The California Citizens Redistricting Commission releases new maps for state and federal offices on August 15th. Commissioner Vince Barabba spoke to KUSP’s Sean Rameswaram about the group’s historic work. Photo courtesy of Statewide Database. Visit California Citizens Redistricting Commission site
Leatherback Turtles Edge Toward Federal Protection July 19 | Sean Rameswaram • Leatherback sea turtles recently came one step closer to having part of their favorite ocean pathway recognized and regulated by the federal government. Part of that pathway is here in the Monterey Bay. Photo by Claudia Lombard, USFWS Visit KUSP Reports Environment site
Rep. Farr Discusses Debt Ceiling July 14 | Sean Rameswaram • Representative Sam Farr says Democrats are willing to accept conditions on raising the debt ceiling, but only if they are balanced. Though he has in the past voted against raising the government's spending limit, he disagrees with the Republicans' methods this time around.
Secretary Laird Says Republicans Missed Chance for Reform July 8 | Sean Rameswaram • After months of negotiations and a few false starts, Governor Brown recently signed a single-party budget agreement. Republicans are taking issue with the plan, saying it once again postpones serious reform. Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird discusses the budget as well as a recent tribal water agreement on the North Coast and other state water issues. Highway on the High Sea July 8 | Sean Rameswaram • Over the past ten years marine biologists across the globe were busy taking part in the first ever Census of Marine Life. One group involved focused on tracking migration in the Pacific Ocean and it recently published a remarkable discovery: Marine predators are traveling across the planet’s biggest ocean on a superhighway. Photo by Tagging of Pacific Predators (c) Dan Costa, UC Santa Cruz Visit KUSP Reports Environment site
Novelist Donald Ray Pollock
Rick Kleffel, producer of KUSP’s Agony Column book show speaks with novelist Donald Ray Pollock, whose “The Devil All The Time" updates the southern Gothic style of Faulkner. Listen to the full Agony Column show Sunday, at 7pm.
First Friday Brings New Assemblage and Resin Works to Felix Kulpa
June 30 | Maureen Davidson • The First Friday events in Pacific Grove, Salinas and Santa Cruz bring numerous new art exhibits tomorrow. White Balance, in downtown Santa Cruz's Felix Kulpa gallery, is a combine show with book-construction artist Jody Alexander and Michelle Stitz, who works with layers of oil paint in Resin. Arts Writer Maureen Davidson spoke with the artists as they installed their show..
Searching for Graceland Too (Three part series below) KUSP Music Reporter Eric Berg
went on a personal quest to find Graceland
Too, one of America's most authentic
tributes to the King. In three episodes
he explores the city of Holly Springs,
Mississippi. More pictures at Eric's
blog. Episode
1: Aikei Pro's Records
June 29 | Eric Berg • Aikei
Pro's is a destination for Rock and Roll
collectors in the genre's heartland.
While wandering the old downtown of Holly
Springs, Mississippi in search of Graceland
Too, Rock n Roll Buddy Don and I discover
a horder's dream come true - Aikei Pro's
Records Shop. The store's 86 yr old owner,
David Caldwell, talked about the old
juke joint days when blues ruled the
area.
Episode 2: The Path to Graceland Too
June 30 | Eric Berg
• On the search for Graceland Too in Holly Springs, Mississippi, I figure the guys standing in front of Aikei Pro's Records Shop would be good for directions. I guess we should have brought a GPS after all….Finding the Elvis Shrine involves a stumble across the Holly Springs museum named for one of the pioneers of muckraking journalism, Ida B. Wells.
Episode 3: Graceland Too
July 1 | Eric Berg • The 24-hour museum entirely devoted to Elvis Presley reveals a vast array of Elvis materials from 45s to panties thrown onstage during his concerts. Paul McLeod, curator of Graceland Too leads the tour. Photos by Eric Berg .
Assemblymember Monning Disappointed by Brown's Veto June 24 | J.D. Hillard • Assemblymember Bill Monning says the Democrats' recently vetoed budget was on the level. He discusses Governor Brown's next move and legislation he advanced that will make it illegal for California's rental car companies to use recalled vehicles. Nature Crowns Cowell "Biggest Beach Bummer" June 24 | Sean Rameswaram • Summer is officially here, so we'll be seeing many more a beachgoer enjoying the water around the Monterey Bay. A report from Santa Monica's Heal the Bay says some of that water may not be as clean as we would like. Visit KUSP Reports Environment sitePhoto by Sean Rameswaram Cultural Council and a Parcel Tax Preserve Arts Education June 24 | Mwende Hahesy • In recent decades pottery, painting an music have been disappearing frmo California schools. Meanwhile, evidence has been accumulating that if we hope for students to stay in school and to excel in core topics like reading, math and science, art may help. Visit KUSP's Solutions in Education site
Setting Goals for Santa Cruz County's nonprofits an Extensive Process June 23 | Ken Burson • Many of Santa Cruz County's nonprofits and government agencies participate in a regular checkup on the region's quality of life called the Community Assessment project. The project produces an annual report on various aspects of residents' experience here. It also sets out to coordinate participating groups' activities to improve life in the county. KUSP's Ken Burson reports that the project involves extensive work just to set its objectives.
Community Assessment Project Aims for Lofty Goals June 22 | Ken Burson • Gangs, obese kids and bicycle lanes - you may ask how these topics are related - they and many more issues are part of the Santa Cruz County United Way's "Community Assessment Project"," also know as CAP. KUSP's Ken Burson reports the effort aims to bring together Santa Cruz County's nonprofits and government agencies to improve the region's quality of life in just about every conceiveable way.
Will Bernard Returns to the Region with His Trio June 22 | Eric Berg • Jazz guitarist Will Bernard fuses soul and jazz with Afro-Cuban sounds. The graduate of the renowned Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble has performed with Don Cerry, Jai Uttal and the Pagan Love Orchestra. He plays Kuumbwa Jazz in Santa Cruz this week.
Hundreds Strike at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital June 21 | Sean Rameswaram • After weathering a controversy over a multi-million dollar payout to a retiring executive, the community hospital in Monterey County today copes with a walkout of hundreds of its staff members.
Cannella Says Both Sides Have Heavy Lifting Before Budget Agreement June 17 | Sean Rameswaram • After months of negotiations Democratic lawmakers in Sacramento managed to pass a budget on time Wednesday only to have it immediately vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown. Brown now plans to again approach Republicans in hopes of extending tax and fee extensions. One of those Republicans is State Senator Anthony Cannella. The Senator spoke with KUSP just after the veto yesterday.
The Spiritual in Art at Davenport Gallery June 16 | Maureen Davidson • The current show at the Davenport Gallery collects art referrign to the spiritual from various artists. Among these are Cecil Childress, Marilyn Kuksht and Bridget Henry (Bridget's work pictured left). Visit Davenport Gallery Web site
Secretary Laird Talks Park Closures and Cal-Adapt June 10 | Sean Rameswaram • California’s state parks become pretty popular this time of year, but park closures will draw down the resources invested in the state’s scenic spaces. California Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird discusses the coming closures and Cal-Adapt--a new web site that forecasts the effects of climate change on the state. Visit Cal-Adapt site
New Art in the SC County Building June 9 | KUSP • An art exhibit opened recently featuring whimsical paintings, spiritual photography an awe inspiring carvings in fresh fruit. The venue is the otherwise staid and gray offices of Santa Cruz County’s government. Writer Maureen Davidson took KUSP’s J.D. Hillard to look at art this week. Photo by artist Peggy Hansen. Highway 1 at Alder Creek is Now Fully Open June 9 | KUSP • The area of Highway 1 south of Big Sur is now open for all traffic. The area had been closed since April 14th due to numerous landslides. Photo courtesy of Caltrans.
Chicken Bingo June 8 | Eric Berg • During a recent road trip across the United States in search of some good Heartland music, we learned an unconventional brand of Bingo at Ginny’s Litlte Longhorn Saloon in Austin, Texas.
California Forward Takes Reform Debate to the People June 6 | J.D. Hillard • California Forward is an organization that seeks to make the state's government more fair and effective. This month the group is hosting a targeted forum in Southern California to include the public in its reform plans.
California Forward Leadership Council member and former Speaker pro Tempore Fred Keeley discusses the event. Visit California Forward site
The Green Flash at Sunset, Explained June 1 | Danielle Venton • Every once in a while as the sun sets it flashes brilliant green. This rare green color isn't an illusion, or a trick of the eye. What is behind it?
Photo by Jim Merz.
Congressman Farr Supports Raising the Debt Ceiling June 1 | Sean Rameswaram • Republican lawmakers in Washington forced a vote on raising the debt ceiling and, as predicted, it failed. Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are wary of the move that's looking increasingly unpopular with voters. Congressman Sam Farr explains why he supports increasing the government's borrowing limit.
So, What Is Organic? May 27 | Sean Rameswaram • Local, natural, sustainable, and organic are all terms we see on our food labels, but only one is explicitly defined. KUSP’s Sean Rameswaram spends an afternoon at the Farmers’ Market and New Leaf Community Market in downtown Santa Cruz to clear up some of the confusion surrounding “organic." He’s joined by Amy Lamendella from California Certified Organic Farmers. Visit California Certified Organic Farmers site Visit KUSP Reports: Environment site
Freewheelin' Farm Builds a Business around Community Supported Agriculture May 26 | Sean Rameswaram • Americans are trying to eat more locally and sustainably – a trend that’s easy to spot at your grocery store or farmer’s market. Yet one of the most local and sustainable food options has struggled to win over consumers.
A Community Supported Agriculture or "CSA" share cuts out the middleman and sometimes even the travel, getting subscribers a hand picked assortment of fruits and vegetables delivered directly from the farm. The content of the share can typically feed a family of four and is determined by the farm producing the food.
While the CSA model hasn’t exactly taken-off nationwide, one local farm is making a go of it. Freewheelin’ Farm in Santa Cruz has built a successful business around CSA and it’s seeking more converts. Visit Freewheelin' Farm site Visit KUSP Reports: Environment site Photo by Sean Rameswaram
Assemblymember Alejo Requests Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Audit May 25 | Sean Rameswaram • Assemblymember Luis Alejo represents California’s 28th Assembly District which includes Salinas. He discusses the recent controversy over the proposed multi-million dollar compensation of one executive at the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital.
In response to Mr. Alejo, the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital says that its staffing meets state requirements and will continue to do so.The hospital itemized the portions of Mr. Downing's compensation, noting that much of it resulted from an accumulation of annual contributions to his pension over 23 years. North African Music with Fattah Abbou and Mohamed Aoualou May 21 | Robert Pollie • Take a musical journey to North Africa with Fattah Abbou and Mohamed Aoualou of the band Aza. They visited our studio to perform some lovely tunes and talk about their music and culture. They also perform at Kuumbwa on Saturday.
Dueling Art Fairs May Make for World Class Viewing May 19 | Maureen Davidson • Three Art Fairs are trying to grow roots in San Francisco. Maureen Davidson, who writes the Exhibitionist arts blog, suggests that regardless of the outcome of the competition, art audiences may benefit from world-class art viewing.
Billy Cox Brings the Blues to Santa Cruz May 19 | Eric Berg • It's no secret that KUSP music reviewer Eric Berg is a Hendrix fanatic. When the opportunity to interview the guitar master's original bass player came up, he jumped.
California's Water Issues Continue Despite 2011's Ample Supply May 13 | Sean Rameswaram • A recent report by the National Research Council concluded that California's Bay Delta Conservation Plan is riddled with holes. Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird discusses solutions and the controversy over desalination.
New Court Aims to Improve Education for Foster Youth May 13, 2011 | J.D. Hillard • Court is a fact of life for foster youth. Judges rule on whether children will return to their parents and other crucial decisions. KUSP's J.D. Hillard reports that a San Jose court now focuses just on factors affecting foster youths' education.
Find more education reporting at KUSP's Solutions in Education site
Watsonville Turns to Volunteers to Keep Sloughs Clean May 11 | Wes Sims • Budget cutbacks are making the City of Watsonville more dependent on volunteer labor to maintain an important natural resource for south Santa Cruz County. The Wetlands of Watsonville include Harkins and Watsonville sloughs. Volunteers from a local church group pitched in to pick up trash and cut brush over the weekend. KUSP's Wes Sims took part, and files this report.
State Senator Cannella Crosses the Line for Vote on Labor Contracts May 6 | Sean Rameswaram • Republican State Senator Anthony Cannella represents California’s 12th Senate District, which includes all of San Benito County and parts of Monterey County. He recently crossed party lines to to vote with Democrats on labor contract agreements for six of the state’s unions. He discusses that descion and what it may hold for the pending debate on pension reform.
Protecting Tropical Forests with Google Earth Engine and CLASlite May 6 | Danielle Venton • The fight against tropical deforestation and climate change is getting some help by Greg Asner, at the Carnegie Institution for Science, at Stanford University. Asner's lab is creating new tools to monitor forests with satellite imagery. Photo by Carnegie/Asner Lab. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and Throwing Stones - Two Disparate Nights of Music to the Rio May 5 | Eric Berg • This weekend the region welcomes Indian santoor master Shivkumar Sharma on Friday. Saturday brings Thorwing Stones: 21 Rolling Stones songs interpreted by 21 local musicians.
Gardening to Support Native Bees April 29 | Danielle Venton • At the Urban Bee Garden in Berkeley, Gordon Frankie shares plant lists and gardening tips to help home gardeners turn their patch of green into a Bee Eden. The garden will be open to the public on May 1 as part of the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour. Photo by Automania.
O'Neill Sea Odyssey: Enhancing Science Education April 28 | Sean Rameswaram • The O'Neill Sea Odyssey has been taking 4th, 5th and 6th graders out sailing on the Monterey Bay since 1996. In early April the program served its 60,000th student. It's free, fun and promises a day of activities on the Pacific Ocean; but the trip can also enhance student learning and performance.
McPherson Says Redistricting Could Help Reduce Rigidity of State Politics April 25 | Sean Rameswaram • Bruce McPherson served in California’s Assembly and Senate before joining California Forward, an organization seeking to improve governance in the state. He speaks about California’s shortage of bipartisan politics and a possible solution that may come before the end of the year.
Dengue Fever Runs Surf Rock and Cambodian Pop to Moe's Alley April 22 | Eric Berg • Dengue Fever is an infectious tropical disease, but it's also a Los Angeles-based rock band that combines surf rock with Cambodian pop music. KUSP's music maven Eric Berg spoke to the band's guitarist and listened to their latest offering Cannibal Courtship in advance of their show in Santa Cruz April 27.
Assemblyman Bill Monning Says All Cuts Budget Will Hurt Central Coast
April 15 | J.D. Hillard • Governor Brown got his budget negotiations started as early as he could, but the state's still waiting on an agreement. More and more an "all cuts" budget is being considered. Assemblyman Bill Monning of the 27th district discusses how the cuts would affect the Central Coast.
Sweet Honey in the Rock Brings Socially Conscious Songs to Santa Cruz April 15 | Eric Berg • Award-winning Washington DC a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock returns to Santa Cruz on April 20. KUSP's Eric Berg profiles the group's socially conscious songs and plays a few cuts from their latest album Go in Grace.
4
Decades of Sesnon April 14 | Maureen
Davidson • The Sesnon Gallery
on the campus of UCSC has been operating
since 1971. In honor of its anniversary
the gallery is exhibiting a show of
work that has been displayed in the
gallery over that time. ExhibitionMaureen
Davidson led KUSP's J.D. Hillard through
a sample of the Sesnon's
4 Decades of Art.
Jeff Beck and Imelda May Band Honor Les Paul
April 14 | Eric Berg • KUSP's Eric Berg joined the fun at the Fillmore in San Francisco last weekend where Jeff Beck and the Imelda May Band honored the late Les Paul. He says it was a rockin' good time and Beck's new live album is a worthy reminder.
Congressman Farr on Federal Spending April 13 | Sean Rameswaram • Representative Sam Farr of California's 17th congressional district took time between votes in Washington to discuss the averted federal shutdown, the latest budget negotiations, and a presidential slush fund he would like to see terminated.
Jazz of All Stripes At Kuumbwa April 8 | Eric Berg • Eric Berg talks about a pair of jazz music polar opposites coming to Santa Cruz in the second week of April: The traditional jazz of old New Orleans as performed by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and German keyboardist Barbara Dennerlein on the mighty Hammond B-3.
Best of the Central Coast a Showcase of Watercolor Skill
April 7 | Maureen Davidson • The Central Coast Watercolor Society's member's show at the Santa Cruz Art League survey's the creativity and skills of the region's watercolorists.
More Rocky Creek Slide Info: Pedestrians will be escorted through a half-mile section from one end of the slide to the other at TWO different times: 7 AM AND 4 PM promptly, beginning March 30. Bikes are also okay during these escorts. People are asked to park in the Bixby Creek/Old Coast Road turnout at the south end, and the Rocky Creek Bridge turnout at the north end. Photo of Rocky Creek slide courtesy of Stan Russell. Official Caltrans informationUnofficial blog/more photo
Laird Talks Budget, Parks, Tsunami Damage and More March 18 | Sean Rameswaram • Former Santa Cruz Mayor and California State Assemblyman John Laird is now in Governor Brown's executive office. He discusses California's contentious budget talks, state park closures, repairs after the March 11 tsunami and more.
Music to Make Your St. Patrick's Day March 16 | Eric Berg • St. Patrick's Day is upon us. KUSP's Eric Berg visited several Irish pubs and other festive establishments in Santa Cruz County in search of the best songs for an authentic celebration.
Keeley Expects Progress in State Budget Negotiations March 14 | J.D. Hillard • Former Assemblyman Fred Keeley is now a member of a group called California Forward that lobbies for measures they argue will improve the state budget. He spoke with KUSP’s J.D. Hillard about the ongoing budget negotiations. Photo by Steve Laufer
Cleanup Begins in Santa Cruz Harbor March 14 | Nick Fountain • Crews are extracting some of the boats that sunk when last week's Tsunami pummeled the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor. KUSP Reports toured the harbor and talked to boat owners and officials about cleanup efforts.
Tsunami Pounds Santa Cruz Harbor March 11 | J.D. Hillard and Nick Fountain • Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Del Norte Counties. This makes state resources and personnel availabel to aid local agencies with the cleanup. In Santa Cruz small craft harbor, cleanup means recovering boats and debris from docks that broke loose in the event.
Pphoto by Duncan Lively
Music For Your Mardi Gras March 3 | Fat Tuesday is days away and KUSP's Eric Berg has some suggestions for Mardi Gras music. He spoke with luminaries in the Central Coast music world, and shares his insight about the best ways to get into the Mardi Gras groove.
Farr Discusses Reductions in Federal Spending March 2 | Sean Rameswaram • The House of Representatives has approved a funding measure that would delay a government shutdown after billions in cuts. From the floor of the House, Congressman Sam Farr spoke to KUSP about the future of federal spending.
McPherson Says State Needs Structural Reform February 25 | Sean Rameswaram • Bruce McPherson represented the Central Coast in the California Assembly and Senate. Now he works with California Forward, an organization that seeks a state government that spends our money wisely. He discusses the future of the fees and taxes that have divided Sacramento lawmakers.
California Partnership Academies Change High School Experience February 21 | Sean Rameswaram • California Partnership Academies are schools within high schools, created in the 1980s to improve graduation rates for at-risk students. The idea was to take kids who might drop out and engage them in smaller, career-focused learning environments. Despite their success, the state budget crisis threatens to drastically reduce the number of programs available to students. Photo by Sean Rameswaram
Monning Says Foreclosure Crisis Continues on Central Coast February 21 | Sean Rameswaram • Assemblyman Bill Monning of California's 27th District discusses a pair of housing crises on the Central Coast and says he hopes to help fine tune the most dramatic parts of Governor Brown's budget proposal.
KUSP Reports continues to speak to your representatives. If you have questions you would like to ask them, post them in the comments section of our blog
Steel-plate "sill" could aleviate some of Elkhorn Slough's woes February 18 | Melissae Fellet
Since the mouth of Moss Landing Harbor was opened in the 1940s, tides have been eroding Elkhorn Slough. KUSP's Melissae Fellet reports a new project may begin to slow that erosion.
Tracking the Funds of Santa Cruz County’s New Rail Line February 17 | Nick Fountain
Santa Cruz County is getting a new rail line. Hear how the County scrapped together the funds to make the purchase, and how one commissioner’s last minute negotiation got Union Pacific to drop the price $400,000.
Santa Cruz Eyes New Possibilities for Rail Lines February 16 | Nick Fountain
The county of Santa Cruz is buying the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. Explore the possible uses for the rail line, which include a multi-use path and even a tram. Photos by Nick Fountain
Senator Blakeslee Looks at State's Long Term Finances February 14 | Sean Rameswaram • Republican State Senator Sam Blakeslee of California's 15th District says California needs to focus on long term solutions when it comes to taxes and budgets. He speaks about reforming the state's finances.
KUSP Reports continues to speak to your representatives. If you have questions you would like to ask them, post them in the comments section of our blog
Methyl Iodide an uncertain solution for the Strawberry Industry February 11 | Melissae Fellet
Coventional strawberry production requires sterilizing the soil with funigants every year or two. KUSP's Melissae Fellet reports on the challenges the industry faces as it aims to replace methyl bromide, which depletes the ozone layer.
Raising the Bar in California High Schools February 9 | Sean Rameswaram • Santa Cruz City Schools is raising the bar for its high school students and it's not the first school district in the region to do so.
Secretary Laird Focuses on the Achievable February 4 | Sean Rameswaram • California's new Secretary of Natural Resources John Laird talks about his environmental priorities as a member of Governor Brown's administration.
KUSP Reports continues to speak to your representatives. If you have questions you would like to ask them, post them in the comments section of our blog.
Chip Lord: Public Spaces February 3 | Maureen Davidson • The current exhibit at UCSC's Sesnon Gallery focuses on a lifetime of work by video and installation artist Chip Lord. Chip Lord on Vimeo.
Elkhorn Slough Becomes Classroom for Local High School Students February 2 | Mwende Hahesy • A group of educators and non-profits in the Central Coast have partnered up to reach out and expand student diversity in environmental science. Through Monterey Bay Aquarium’s WATCH (Watsonville Area Teens Conserving Habitats) program, students at PVHS and WHS work with school faculty, community experts and aquarium educators to design and conduct year-long environmental science projects. As part of their projects, student teams conduct field research at various sites in the region, including Elkhorn Slough. SCWIBLES enables PhD students from UCSC’s Environmental Studies and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology departments to work with WHS students and teachers to develop innovative hands-on math and science activities. On a recent WATCH outing at Elkhorn Slough highlighted in this story, SCWIBLES fellows accompanied WHS students and offered feedback and assistance with the WATCH projects.
Keeley Says Brown's Budget Has A Fighting Chance January 31 | Sean Rameswaram • Santa Cruz County Treasurer Fred Keeley is on the Board of Directors of California Forward, an organization that seeks a state government that spends our money wisely. KUSP’s Sean Rameswaram spoke to the former assembly member about California’s next budget.
KUSP Reports continues to speak to your representatives. If you have questions you would like to ask them, post them in the comments section of our blog.
Ice Cream Entrepreneurs Will Be Guests of the First Lady at the State of the Union Address January 25 | Nick Fountain has the scoop • Successful government assistance for a local business is exemplified by the local Penny Ice Creamery as it's founders have been invited to attend the State of the Union Address as guests of First Lady Michelle Obama. Photo by Nick Fountain
Local Students Celebrate MLK Day With One of King's Close Friends
January 17 | Sean Rameswaram • The students at Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz had a special celebration of the 25th Martin Luther King Jr. Day. They remembered the life and dream of Dr. King with one of his close friends, Clarence Jones wrote Behind the Dream: The Making of a Speech that Transformed a Nation. Mr. Jones will be interviewed on Fresh Air January 17th. Congressman Farr Visits Second Harvest Food Bank in Santa Cruz
January 14 | Nick Fountain • Congressman Sam Farr visited the Second Harvest Food Bank at the Tannery Arts Center in Santa Cruz friday. The Congressman was on hand to give the organization kudos for its work.
Assemblyman Monning Discusses Budget
January 14 | Sean Rameswaram • When running for office, Governor Brown promised a gimmick-free budget that would address California roughly 25 billion dollar debt. He delivered his proposal last week. In an extended interview KUSP's Sean Rameswaram speaks to Assemblyman Bill Monning of the 27th District about the budget and other issues affecting the Central Coast.
KUSP Reports continues to speak to your representatives. If you have questions you would like to ask them, post them in the comments section of our blog.
Maureen Davidson Murals
January 10 | J.D. Hillard • However much they affect you, murals are a part of the culture - and often a fleeting one. The elements, earthquakes or simply changes in property ownership mean murals’ have limited lifetimes. Arts Writer Maureen Davidson’s latest project is to find murals from the past, she spoke with KUSP’s J.D. Hillard.
The 37th Annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair
January 10 | J.D. Hillard • The 37th annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair is underway in downtown Santa Cruz. Hundreds of mushrooms are on display, and the people who gathered them are on hand to talk about whether they’d taste good or kill you or both. KUSP’s J.D. Hillard joined Exhibitionist Maureen Davidson for a preview of the event.
State Senator Sam Blakeslee's Legislative Aspirations in 2011
January 7 | Sean Rameswaram • It's a new year and California has a new governor who seeks to cut through the political gridlock that has plagued the legislature in the past. Senator Sam Blakeslee of District 15 says that may be possible.
KUSP Reports continues to speak to your representatives in the state legislature. If you have questions, post them in the comments section of our blog.
A Template to Cope with Rising Sea Levels
December 17 | Sean Rameswaram • California's coastal communities will soon have a template to cope with rising sea levels. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz are working on a guidebook that would spell out what to expect. Professor Greg Griggs, the director of UCSC's Institute of Marine Sciences is interviewed.
Metal is Magic at the Davenport Gallery December 9, 2010 | Maureen Davidson • The Davenport Gallery's latest show displays a wide variety of ways artists can use metal. (Shown is a detail of the steel wall patina "Dawn" by Katrina King).
John McLaughlin and Asleep at the Wheel This Weekend December 8, 2010 | Eric Berg • Jazz guitarist John McLaughlin plays Friday. Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel plays Sunday. KUSP's Eric Berg has this preview.
Monterey County General Plan Faces Multiple Lawsuits December 6, 2010 | J.D. Hillard • Monterey County worked for 11 years on it's General Plan - several times plans were rejected after reaching final stages. Monterey County Herald reporter Jim Johnson reports that now a plan has effect, it faces multiple lawsuits. Monterey County Board Considers Fire Plan December 3, 2010 | J.D. Hillard • The Board of Supervisors in Monterey consider a plan whose critics argue that it would subject the county's wilderness to brush clearing without environmental review. Photo by J.D. Hillard
Monterey County Community Wildfire Protection Plan December 2, 2010 | J.D. Hillard • In MontereyCounty a group of residents hoping to prepare for the next wildfires are seeking approval of a plan which is raising some ire of environmental groups. Photo by J.D. Hillard
Museum of Art Exhibit Draws on Current Events December 2, 2010 | Maureen Davidson • The Monterey Now exhibit of works by Beverly Raynor includes clever and beautiful assemblage works. Among these are pieces referring directly to questions of this era: the American Dream of home ownership; who is responsible in surveillance. Photo by J.D. Hillard
First Friday Brings New Assemblage and Resin Works to Felix Kulpa 
Episode
1: Aikei Pro's Records 
Episode 2: The Path to Graceland Too
Episode 3: Graceland Too
Nature Crowns Cowell "Biggest Beach Bummer"
Cultural Council and a Parcel Tax Preserve Arts Education 
The Future of Fighting Crime?
Santa Cruz County's Open Studios Begins Oct. 1 
September 22 | Maureen Davidson • Watsonville artist Mary Warshaw worked in various media through her life. The retrospective show at the 
Mix
It Up - Mixed Media Show Lets
the Creative Juices Flow 
EPA Settles Methyl Bromide Complaint, Leaves Complainants Out Of Discussion
Crossroads:
Clarksdale, Mississippi 
Crossroads:
Part 2 
Exhibits
at SC's MAH Not Just Hands Off 
Rep. Farr Says Collaboration Is The Path To Jobs, Better Government
Robillard and Baca Come Through Santa Cruz
The Monterey Bay’s Endangered Neighbors
Cooling Coast, Warming Inland?
New Art in the SC County 
Highway 1 at Alder Creek is Now Fully Open 
Chicken Bingo
Green Flash at Sunset, Explained
Freewheelin' Farm Builds a Business around Community Supported Agriculture 
North African Music with Fattah Abbou and Mohamed Aoualou 
Dueling Art Fairs May Make for World Class Viewing 
Project Wave of Optimism -- Sustainable Community Development in Latin America 
Gardening to Support Native Bees 
Highway 1 Road Condition Updates - Big Sur Area
More Rocky Creek Slide Info: Pedestrians will be escorted through a half-mile section from one end of the slide to the other at TWO different times: 7 AM AND 4 PM promptly, beginning March 30. Bikes are also okay during these escorts. People are asked to park in the Bixby Creek/Old Coast Road turnout at the south end, and the Rocky Creek Bridge turnout at the north end. Photo of Rocky Creek slide courtesy of Stan Russell. 
California Partnership Academies Change High School Experience 
Tracking the Funds of Santa Cruz County’s New Rail Line
Santa Cruz Eyes New Possibilities for Rail Lines 
Ice Cream Entrepreneurs Will Be Guests of the First Lady at the State of the Union Address 
Local Students Celebrate MLK Day With One of King's Close Friends
Metal is Magic at the Davenport Gallery
Monterey County Board Considers Fire Plan
