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The City of Goleta was recognized by the National Weather Service with a StormReady certification at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The designation establishes that the city is prepared for storm events, giving city officials the opportunity to strengthen lines of communication and community safety programs.

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Assemblymember Pedro Nava’s fast-tracked legislation, Assembly Bill 984, was passed by the State Assembly this week in a bipartisan 64-4 vote. Responding to the brutal gang rape of a minor in Richmond, California, Nava’s “Witness Responsibility Act” will hold witnesses accountable for failing to report a rape or murder. A 1999 California law made it illegal to fail to report a witnessed rape, murder, or crime against a child under the age of 14 and made the offense punishable as a misdemeanor with up to six months in jail and a maximum fine of $1,500; Nava’s bill will remove the victim’s age threshold.