Stocktonia Morning Briefing: Dec. 21, 2024

👋 The Aurora — a vintage 300-foot-long cruise liner — captured the public’s imagination. It had made movie appearances, and though its glory had long since faded, past owners dreamed of refurbishing it. 

Instead, age claimed the hull. After being moored in the Delta near Stockton, the Aurora sank in May, turning a faded dream into an environmental emergency. The ship was leaking chemicals into the water, and the city’s water intake was just downstream.

Coast Guard, state and local officials refloated the ship and stopped the leaking, but they faced a potentially endless problem: What to do with it now?

On Friday, we broke the story on the final answer. 

The Coast Guard approved what’s called a “deadship tow,” a special maneuver for ships that can neither power themselves nor steer, and three tugboats moved in to haul the Aurora out of the Delta. It was bound for Vallejo.

What happens to the ship when it gets there hasn’t yet been revealed, so there may be another voyage in the Aurora’s future.

See today’s top story below to read more about the surprising turn of events.

Adventist Health exits management of Dameron Hospital in Stockton

American Advanced Management, a Modesto-based hospital operator, started the process of taking control of 200-bed Dameron from Adventist Health on Dec. 2.

Stockton police netted 592 guns in buybacks this year. Are we safer now?

While the gun buyback event last weekend was considered a success — officers collected 86 firearms for destruction — such programs remain controversial.

Sky-high load of holiday decorations gets no love from CHP

A small pickup was piled sky-high with household items, including a Christmas tree topped with a gold star, when it was pulled over on Highway […]

UC campuses resolve discrimination complaints stemming from Gaza protests

Jewish and Muslim students complained of discrimination and harassment during protests last spring over the war in Gaza.

Central Valley environmental group among those suing over California support for polluting biofuels

The lawsuits target the low-carbon fuel standard, which requires California to reduce the environmental impact of transportation fuels.

California declared an emergency over bird flu. How serious is the situation?

Gov. Gavin Newsom said he declared the state of emergency to better position state staff and supplies to respond to the outbreak.