Spare the Air today and tomorrow

Today's Spare the Air day will be followed by another one Thursday (Sept. 22), regional air quality officials announced this morning. This means another free day of rides on Unitrans, Yolo Bus and other transit systems.

The threshold for a Spare the Air declaration is a reading of 151 or higher on the air quality index (measuring ground-level ozone) — with readings of 151 to 200 defined as unhealthy for everyone. The forecast for today and tomorrow is 154.

On Spare the Air days, people are urged to limit or put off driving altogether — or to use public transit — so as not to make the air quality any worse than it is expected to be.

The goal is to reduce auto emissions, which, in combination with high temperatures, contribute to the extra poor air quality.

Other agencies besides Unitrans and Yolo Bus giving free rides today are the North Natomas Transportation Management Agency Shuttle, Auburn Transit, Lincoln Transit, Placer County Transit and Roseville Transit.

People who run errands in their cars are asked to do so in the morning hours when pollution levels are low. Similarly, if you are biking or walking, you should do so in the morning hours.

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Spare the Air

Sexual battery suspect now held in 2 cases

Campus police now say the same man committed two sexual batteries within 24 hours earlier this week — and he is in jail, again.

Officers identified him as 21-year-old Angel Cruz of Woodland, who had been arrested Monday (Sept. 19) after a female student reported that a man approached her near Aggie Stadium at about 10:30 that night and grabbed her buttocks.

Tuesday morning (Sept. 20), a female employee reported that a man rode up to her on a bicycle, as she was walking to work, and grabbed her buttocks. She said the incident occurred at about 8:20 a.m. in the vicinity of the west entry parking garage.

Police did not immediately suspect Cruz, until learning later that he had been released from the Yolo County Jail early Tuesday. He made his way back to the campus and allegedly committed the second offense, according to police.

Campus investigators said the female employee identified Cruz as her attacker, after city of Davis police had arrested him later Tuesday for probation violation.

Cruz was being held on several misdemeanor charges: two counts of sexual battery, violating an order to stay away from UC Davis (an order that stemmed from his Monday night arrest) and probation violation.

Police advise students and others on campus to remain alert to their surroundings, stay in well-lighted areas at night and, wherever possible, travel with friends. Additional safety tips are available online.

The Police Department's Safety Escort Service is available fall, winter and spring quarters, from 5:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (1 a.m. or later during finals); call (530) 752-1727.