This Week's Rohnert Park Headlines

Rohnert Park police joined a band of more than 200 regional police agencies this month for a statewide crackdown on the use of talking on the cell phone while driving, which police say is on the rise. The effort is welcomed by a group of Rohnert Park residents, who after 2-year-old Calli Murray was struck and killed Dec. 1 by a Sonoma State student. The student, Kaitlyn Dunaway, admitted she was using her phone when she ran through a crosswalk, killing the girl and severely injuring her mother. . Stay tuned, Rohnert Park Patch is following up this week.

We started a new column this week — business profile of the week — inaugurated by . Have an idea for a local business person who deserves recognition? Let us know. Either post a comment below or send an email to angela.hart@patch.com.

News broke last week that Sonoma County Library branch hours could be reduced significantly. Facing a severe budget deficit, a Rohnert Park librarian confirmed that 12 hours will likely be cut from the library's hours of operation. The most severe cut is the decision to close libraries completely on Mondays. . 

Sonoma State students next week get the opportunity to vote on a brand new student center — for a cost of $300 per student per year. by Rohnert Park Patch shows the majority of students don't want to pay more for tuition, and they'd rather have more classes instead.

More cuts. Officials with Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit that they're likely to eliminate a third of the bicycle and walking path that's scheduled to be built along the SMART line, to encourage people to get out of their cars and walk or cycle to the train station. But rail planners said they need to cut the multi-use path in order to get the train running by the end of 2014.

In school news, the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District faces an even steeper uphill battle to balance their budget before the close of this year's school year. Gov. Jerry Brown's announcement last week of halting talks with Republican lawmakers and possibly tax extensions could put the district in even worse shape. .

And, this week we launched the first of five articles on whether or not Rohnert Park is ready for the next big earthquake — which earthquake scientists say has a 63 percent chance of happening in the next 30 years. The article published Friday details three local schools who may not have made required seismic upgrades. . And, watch next week for the rest of our series. 

Rohnert Park Patch reporter Alex Horvath this week about a new 24 Hour Fitness coming to the center of town this Spring. Do you think we need one?

And don't miss the story by Shelby Pope on the — erected yesterday and donated to the city.