In today's news:
Santa Cruz mayor's race officially headed to a runoff
Santa Cruz County sent its final tally from the June 2 primary to the state today, and confirmed the race for city mayor will go to a runoff in November.
Former county supervisor and mayor Ryan Coonerty will face progressive writer and activist Ami Chen Mills in the general election.
Coonerty wants to shape the city’s growth.
“ This is a really critical time in Santa Cruz," he said. "There's a lot of change and development happening as well as real challenges around vacant storefronts and homelessness.”
Chen Mills wants more people involved in local government.
“ I want to bring a fresh voice to council," she said. "I want to see us organized more as communities, in our neighborhoods, to come to the council with concerns. I want more transparency.”
She says the coming months will include lots of fundraising.
Coonerty was the only candidate in the primary to not accept voluntary expenditure limits. He raised more than double the other four candidates combined.
Warm weather increases West Nile virus threat
Rising temperatures mean increased mosquito activity, and a higher risk of West Nile virus.
The number of dead birds testing positive statewide is more than double the 5-year average for this time of year. The virus circulates among wild birds and is spread to humans by mosquito bites.
Sacramento County Health Officer Dr. Phuong Luu says even mild infections can be hard to shake.
"You don't want to have to deal with this," she said, "because it can last for weeks to months, even if they are mild symptoms."
Health officials recommend draining standing water around homes, using insect repellent, and avoiding being outdoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
That reporting from our partner CapRadio.
