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🌱 Patch AM: What this latest life sentence means in the Tushar Atre case

Happening soon: Travel Talk with Edward on the Santa Cruz Patch calendar

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Wednesday December 17th Patch AM
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Morning Santa Cruz! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What this latest life sentence means in the Tushar Atre case
  • How will Santa Cruz replace critical daytime services for unhoused neighbors?
  • Will Santa Cruz lose public hearings on new affordable housing projects?

Also on today's calendar: Breathing Into Wholeness: Awakening the Inner Light and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Santa Cruz? Post it to Santa Cruz photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Clouds giving way to some sun, with a high of 67 and low of 45 degrees.
  • Thursday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 63, low: 50.
  • Friday: Cloudy, with a high of 64 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Second man sentenced to life in prison in murder of Santa Cruz County tech executive (ksbw.com) — A man convicted in the 2019 kidnapping and killing of Santa Cruz tech entrepreneur Tushar Atre has been sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus additional time. The case, involving an abduction from Atre’s Pleasure Point home and his body later found in the Santa Cruz Mountains, has now seen three of four defendants sentenced, with the final trial continuing into 2026.
   

2. Santa Cruz County officials scramble to address gap in daytime homeless services amid nonprofit turmoil, federal cuts (santacruzsentinel.com) — Santa Cruz County officials are racing to fill a looming gap in daytime services for unhoused residents after MHCAN’s closure and Housing Matters’ plan to end drop‑in day services next March. Supervisors are reshuffling contracts, exploring new funding models, and working with former MHCAN leaders to potentially restart services in the city of Santa Cruz, even as federal housing support is expected to shrink.
   

3. Santa Cruz Planning Commission to consider eliminating public hearings for affordable housing (santacruzsentinel.com) — Santa Cruz residents may soon see public hearings eliminated for 100% affordable housing projects, as the city Planning Commission meets Thursday to consider a new ministerial approval overlay district. The agenda also includes major bike and pedestrian upgrades on Swanton Boulevard and Delaware Avenue, a taller Encinal Street communications tower, and details on how residents can still weigh in at community meetings.
   

4. The Psychedelic Scientist (nautil.us) — A UC Santa Cruz research associate who keeps a massive vintage computer collection in the Santa Cruz Mountains is drawing attention for blending psychedelics with serious origin-of-life science. Bruce Damer’s visions helped shape a hot-springs theory of how life began, developed in collaboration with fellow UC Santa Cruz scientist David Deamer and now debated by leading biologists worldwide.
   

5. Montana State earns cyber defense center designation (edscoop.com) — UC Santa Cruz is highlighted as one of the universities nationwide recognized by the federal government for excellence in cybersecurity research, similar to a new designation just awarded to Montana State. While the story centers on Montana, it underscores that Santa Cruz’s campus already holds this cyber defense credential through a National Security Agency program, reinforcing the university’s growing role in high-demand tech fields.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Melody, a dog who went missing in Santa Cruz County, CA, has been safely reunited with their family after 2 hours, 48 minutes. Message from Owner: … (Nextdoor Live Oak)
  • Is anyone in the Carbonara or Branciforte Drive area near Delaveaga Park missing a small (kitten) grey with white chin?
    She was in our garage now at 11:30 p.m. If it is yours--if you are out looking for it and you see my message please call immediately! My name is… (Nextdoor Carbonera)
  • University of California Santa Cruz posted a job opening for Computational Media Department: Adjunct Professor Pool in Santa Cruz. Apply here.
  • Staples posted a job opening for Retail Sales Supervisor in Santa Cruz. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Santa Cruz here.

Ok Santa Cruz! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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