by Tom Aizenberg
RENO, Nev. — One juvenile has been arrested in connection to the murder in Reno on Thursday night
Reno police officers responded to a shooting near W
where they found an adult male victim who had been shot
Despite emergency medical aid provided by REMSA
Authorities have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat
The identity of the deceased will be released by the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner's Office after proper notifications
with assistance from the California Highway Patrol and other local agencies
the juvenile suspect was located near Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Police Department SWAT team arrested the suspect without incident
News
California sea lion Ronan at UC Santa Cruz’s Long Marine Laboratory
(Photo by Colleen Reichmuth; NOAA/NMFS 23554)
which looks at whether different species are capable of behaving in ways that show they recognize aspects of music
remains a tantalizing field at the intersection of biology and psychology
the highly trained California sea lion at UC Santa Cruz who achieved global fame for her ability to bob her head to a beat is finally back: starring in a new study that shows her rhythm is just as precise—if not better—than humans
Ronan first shimmied onto the world stage in 2013, when researchers at the university’s Long Marine Laboratory reported that, not only could she bob her head to a beat, but adjust her nods to tempos and music she hadn’t heard before. In this new study
published on May 1 in the Nature journal Scientific Reports
Ronan’s research team showed that her synchronization was as good or better than humans—and that her consistency in performing the beat-keeping task was better than that of humans
To best match Ronan’s way of responding to a beat
researchers asked 10 UC Santa Cruz undergraduates to move their preferred arm in a fluid
up-and-down motion to the beat of a percussive metronome
and 128 beats per minute—with Ronan not previously exposed to 112 and 128 bpms
At 120 bpm, Ronan’s most practiced tempo, she on average hits within 15 milliseconds of the beat, according to the new study’s lead author, Peter Cook, a longtime researcher with UC Santa Cruz’s Institute of Marine Sciences
Ronan’s variability in timing beat-to-beat is also around 15 milliseconds
the blink of a human eye takes about 150 milliseconds
with variability of only about a tenth of an eyeblink from cycle to cycle,” said Cook
also a comparative neuroscientist at the New College of Florida
she might hit the beat five milliseconds early
sometimes she might hit it 10 milliseconds late
But she’s basically hitting the rhythmic bullseye over and over and over again.”
The researchers emphasize that Ronan is in complete control of her participation
She is not deprived of food nor punished for choosing not to engage
and her training structure reflects this autonomy: She begins each session by climbing onto a designated ramp station
where she relaxes while waiting for the experiment to begin
she positions herself and signals her readiness to start
she is free to return to her pool without any negative consequences
Ronan was born in the wild in 2008, but stranded repeatedly due to malnutrition. After three such strandings, and being spotted walking down Highway 1 in 2009, regulatory agencies finally deemed her to be non-releasable. So UC Santa Cruz adopted her in 2010 and she became a permanent member of the Pinniped Lab
led by UC Santa Cruz research scientist and adjunct professor Colleen Reichmuth
uses cooperative training methods to study behavior and physiology in marine mammals
participate in a wide range of projects that help teams explore their amphibious subjects’ inner worlds
Examples include studies on learning and memory
Ronan isn’t just working on her rhythm everyday in the lab
she has participated in about 2,000 rhythm exercises—each lasting just 10 to 15 seconds
years went by between these sessions while she focused on other areas of research
“She definitely wasn’t overtrained,” Cook said
if you added up the amount of rhythmic exposure Ronan has had since she’s been with us
it is probably dwarfed by what a typical 1 year old kid has heard.”
“One of the most important outcomes of the study is the fact that maturation and experience matter.”
Ronan’s original rhythm study was inspired by work by Ani Patel, at Tufts University, along with colleagues who studied intermittent beat keeping in Snowball, a pet cockatoo who spontaneously “danced” to the Backstreet Boys
Because humans and cockatoos are both vocal mimics
the parrot work led to a theory that brain changes to support vocal learning were required for moving in time to music
Sea lions haven’t shown the ability to learn new vocalizations, so Ronan’s 2013 study made a huge splash because it challenged the vocal-learning theory of rhythm
some prominent theorists in biomusicality claimed that her performance was not as precise and reliable as human performance
They suggested that Ronan might not be doing exactly what humans were
she could not rely on the same biological mechanisms for perceiving and moving in time to rhythm
That prompted Cook and Reichmuth to test Ronan again to see if she had improved
and to compare her performance to people performing a similar task with the same sounds
is that Ronan was more precise and consistent at every tempo they tested
And in a head-to-head battle of the beats with the UC Santa Cruz students
The study’s authors then used the students’ performance to model the theoretical performance of 10,000 humans conducting the same rhythmic behavior.
Ronan was in the 99th percentile for beat-keeping reliability
the team says Ronan is “grown up and in her prime” for a female sea lion in managed care
the researchers have become extremely attuned to Ronan
“One of the most important outcomes of the study is the fact that maturation and experience matter,” Reichmuth said
“ It’s not just a test of rhythmic performance
It reflects her cognitive behavior and her ability to remember and refine it over time.”
Another thing: Ronan also wants to perform well
it’s a game she knows how to win,” Reichmuth said
“and she likes the fish that come with it.”
Ronan’s research progression has had far-reaching impacts in the scientific community
contributing to a growing body of work in comparative cognition
Her journey from an eager and curious orphaned sea lion to a key figure in rhythm-perception studies has exceeded all expectations
Her abilities challenge existing paradigms about which species can perceive and produce rhythm
opening new doors for research on the cognitive capacities of animals
The team’s 2013 paper inspired follow-up studies across various species
As UC Santa Cruz researchers continue to analyze and share findings
they remain committed to fostering a broader understanding of rhythm perception across species—and Ronan’s recent work will further that goal.
Ronan’s story is not just about one sea lion
A question Cook says he often hears is why can’t dogs dance
Our canine companions are frequently exposed to music
they don’t seem to respond with rhythmic movements like Ronan
Cook responds by asking his own question: How many people try to train their dog to dance in an explicit rhythm-based way
“If you’re going to say dogs can’t dance
you have to empirically assess that—really give the dog many opportunities to receive very precise feedback on rhythmic movement and see how they do,” Cook said
“I would be very surprised if you couldn’t get a border collie to do something like what Ronan does if you spend enough time on it.”
But this isn’t about teaching animals a cool party trick for fun
What Cook and researchers like him around the globe seek to better understand are the evolution of cognition
and the intricate ways in which brains—both human and non-human—process the world around them
“Ronan’s new study highlights the importance of experience
and really fine-grained training in a controlled laboratory setting to assess these questions,” Cook concludes
Other co-authors of the paper include researchers Carson Hood and Andrew Rouse
who are also jointly affiliated with UC Santa Cruz’s Institute of Marine Sciences and the New College of Florida
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Courtesy photoThe 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited
It is always great to get some quality time in a newly updated vehicle of any type; however getting into the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited
a compact pickup that blurs the lines between SUV comfort and truck utility
From running daily errands around Utah Valley to a couple of road trips up north
this stylish utility vehicle proved itself to be more than just a pretty face
With a number of updates for the 2025 model year
the Santa Cruz has become even more refined
Hyundai has given the Santa Cruz a refresh for 2025 that has brought it in line with the brand’s latest design language
The front fascia now features a more aggressive grille flanked by updated LED headlights that seamlessly integrated into the bodywork
bolder color options and a tweaked tailgate completed the exterior makeover
Our Limited trim tester came finished in a nice Rockwood Green with black accents
the biggest upgrade came in the form of the dual 12.3-inch panoramic digital displays that stretched across the dashboard — a setup lifted directly from Hyundai’s upscale IONIQ models
These high-resolution screens handled everything from gauges to infotainment
and the new touchscreen interface was sleek
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard across all trims for 2025
a very welcome addition for those like us who live by our smartphones
Other new features included improved seat materials
more sound insulation for a quieter ride and a new gear selector that freed up space in the center console
The cabin felt more luxurious than our last encounter with the Santa Cruz
Our week started off with regular daily driving to and from our work places
and the Santa Cruz proved to be very adept in the city
Its compact size (compared to traditional pickups) made it easy to maneuver through traffic and parking lots
yet it still offered an elevated driving position and the cargo flexibility of a small truck
Our Limited trim test ride came with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive
With 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque
it had no problem getting up to speed on the freeway or merging with confidence
The turbo engine’s power delivery was very smooth and quite strong
and the transmission shifted quickly and cleanly
Whether we were running errands in Provo or heading out to Spanish Fork for lunch
Ride comfort proved to be another highlight
Hyundai’s engineers had done a fantastic job tuning the suspension to soak up bumps without feeling floaty
The Santa Cruz rode like an SUV but offered the practical benefits of a 4-foot open truck bed
complete with a lockable tonneau cover and an in-bed trunk with drain plug — perfect for hauling gear or even for use as an ice box for tailgating
Road trip to Ogden with the Standard-Examiner
Craig headed north to the Ogden Standard-Examiner office
this time to take new managing editor Jared Lloyd up for his first day in his new role
he was able to show off the Santa Cruz’s tech and comfort features
especially as the sun broke through the early spring clouds on in the afternoon
They also made good use of the onboard navigation system
which now included real-time traffic data and Google POI integration for 2025
The premium Bose sound system kept the conversation flowing with good tunes in the background
and Jared was impressed with the refined and quiet cabin
the Santa Cruz parked easily thanks to the surround-view camera system
which gives a 360-degree top-down view of the vehicle
but it’s packed with features usually found in luxury SUVs
Hyundai continued to impress us with its suite of safety features
and the Santa Cruz Limited offered the full package
new enhancements included Intersection Collision Assist and Driver Attention Warning 2.0
These join existing systems like forward collision avoidance
rear cross-traffic alert and safe exit assist
we had several times on the road where the blind-spot view monitor (which shows a live camera feed in the digital cluster) was incredibly useful when changing lanes on the freeway
The Santa Cruz constantly felt like it was looking out for us
proving it would be a great choice for families or anyone who prioritizes peace of mind
Over the course of 500 miles of mixed driving
we averaged about 25 miles per gallon — right in line with EPA estimates for the turbo AWD version
Not bad at all for a vehicle with real truck capability and sporty performance
it would be a great companion for small trailers
The backseat area is roomy enough for adult passengers and also featured under-seat storage for added utility
After spending a week behind the wheel of the refreshed 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited
it became clear that Hyundai had created something truly unique
It blended the best elements of an SUV and a pickup
added a generous helping of modern technology and comfort and wrapped it all in a bold design that would stand out in any driveway
If you’re looking for an SUV but are needing some versatility similar to a small pickup
the Santa Cruz may just prove to be the perfect match
LLC | www.heraldextra.com | 1200 Towne Centre Blvd
A 66-year-old Boulder Creek man has been arrested on suspicion of killing two men whose bodies were found in March in the back of an abandoned pickup truck in the Santa Cruz Mountains
the California Highway Patrol announced Monday
James David Collier faces two charges of murder for the deaths of Boulder Creek residents Sean Pfeffer
Watch NBC Bay Area News free wherever you are
Pfeffer and White's bodies were found on March 24 in the bed of a pickup truck along Highway 35/Skyline Boulevard
Authorities eventually identified Collier as the suspect and arrested him Sunday morning without incident
He was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail
"I want to commend our detectives for their incredible dedication and exceptional investigative efforts in bringing a suspect into custody in this tragic case," CHP Golden Gate Division Chief Don Goodbrand said in a statement
"The successful outcome would not have been possible without the outstanding partnership of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office
We are grateful for their collaboration and unwavering commitment to justice."
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news with the Housing Deconstructed newsletter
A man died after an alleged hit-and-run collision on southbound Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County on Sunday night
according to the California Highway Patrol
patrol officers were alerted to a crash on Highway 1
north of Scott Creek and near the town of Davenport
was walking on the freeway's southbound lane in the area when he was hit by a vehicle
The CHP said the pedestrian came to rest on the freeway and might have been struck again by several vehicles traversing through the area
He was eventually pronounced dead at the scene
"The cause of the crash is still under investigation
It is unknown if alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in this crash," the CHP's office in the Santa Cruz area said in a statement
the highway's lanes south of Swanton Road near Davenport Landing Beach were closed before they reopened around four hours later
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Coroner's Office will release the identity of the pedestrian
Anyone with information about the collision is urged to call the CHP at (831) 219-0200
The Student Sustainability Advisors (SSAs) are excited to host a fundraiser in support of the Sustainability Office
May 8 from 3 PM to midnight at Woodstock’s Pizza in downtown Santa Cruz for a night of good food and great company
We’re raising funds to support campus-wide sustainability efforts
including signature events like Slow Fashion Week and quarterly programs at each residential college
These events aim to promote waste reduction and sustainable living through fun
Make sure to mention the fundraiser when you order in-person
or use the online code “SUSTAIN” and 20% of your order will go directly to the UC Santa Cruz Sustainability Office
and enjoy a slice while supporting a greener
we can keep sustainability thriving at UC Santa Cruz
$245.00 donatedin the past month
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