The Scotts Valley City Council, after a spirited round of public input on affordable housing last week, has unanimously approved the construction of a 5,000-square-foot-commercial space and 25 townhouses at the corner of Scotts Valley Drive and Dunslee Way.

Tap water in Scotts Valley now costs more than it did a week ago, about 27 percent more for a typical household.

Scotts Valley police officers joined Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies in coming to the aid of California Highway Patrol officers who were being assaulted by a Watsonville man following a car chase and foot race off Highway 17 and Laurel Road early Monday.

Local governments in 20 communities have taken formal actions signaling their interest to join Monterey Bay Community Power, a regional project among local government agencies to provide electricity to residents and businesses throughout Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties by 2018