News Briefs

Supervisors support plastic act
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to support Assembly Bill 2138, which would create the Plastic Ocean Pollution Reduction, Recycling and Composting Act.
Supervisor Neal Coonerty recommended that the board support the bill, which would require the fast-food industry to use only packaging materials that can be recycled or composted in the community where they are used.
Sheriff launches new Web site
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Web site now has a fresh face and a more user-friendly interface.
Some new features include arrest logs, arrest warrants, crime mapping, online reporting, a sex-offender search, missing-children search, wanted-persons search, press logs and press releases, crime prevention tips and abandoned vehicle reporting.
Metro updates Web site, bus guide
The Santa Cruz Metropolitan and Transit District has a new Web site, including a redesign of its Headways Bus Rider’s guide.
After a year of production and testing, the site has many new features and will continue to be updated as the public begins to use it.
Feedback can be sent to Metro administrators through the “Customer Service Report” page on the site.
SV Chamber heads to Italy
An informational meeting to discuss a “Flavor of Tuscany” trip to Italy sponsored by the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, at the Hilton Santa Cruz-Scotts Valley, 6001 La Madrona Drive.
The Chamber is looking for people from the public to join the trip, which will be from Oct. 1 through 11.
The trip will begin in Rome and travel to cities throughout Italy to experience the art, food, wine and history of the European nation.
Retired lawyer named to county commission
County Supervisor Mark Stone appointed Margaret Leonard to the County Civil Service Commission on Tuesday, March 23.
Leonard is a retired lawyer with experience in the area of gender and sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace. The commission helps resolve county employment issues.