The attorney for Daniel William Marsh, the 16 year old accused of murdering elderly Davis couple, Oliver Northup and Claudia Maupin in April, filed a motion to exclude the public from and prevent media coverage of Marsh’s preliminary hearing. Yolo County Deputy Public Defender Ronald Johnson argued in a 74 page motion that publicity could jeopardize his client’s right to a fair trial.

“The media surrounding Mr. Marsh has been extensive and sensational,” Johnson said in the motion. “The media coverage regarding the deaths of the victims has been pervasive, lasting for months. The coverage increased when Mr. Marsh was named as a suspect.”

Johnson cited over 70 items of print, broadcast and online coverage related to the case, which has even garnered international coverage.

“The media coverage has made a spectacle out of this case, and the potential jurors in Yolo County are unlikely to forget the assumptions and statements publicized by the news media before Mr. Marsh’s trial,” Johnson said.

According to The Sacramento Bee, Yolo County Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Cabral said prosecutors plan to file a response by the end of next week but had no further comments on the motion.

The Davis Enterprise reported that they plan to oppose the motion in court and said the public has a right to hear the evidence presented at the preliminary hearing.

Marsh is being tried as an adult and pleaded not guilty on June 19 to two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances including lying in wait and torture.

The hearing on the motion is set for Aug. 29 and will be presided over by Yolo Superior Court Judge Timothy Fall. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 13 in Yolo County Superior Court.

— Paayal Zaveri

On Aug. 11, around 2 a.m. the Davis Police Department responded to reports of a large fight at 2033 F Street. While the DPD were responding, additional callers reported gunshots near the area. Upon arrival, the DPD discovered a male victim who had been stabbed.

“During the course of the investigation, it was determined that a party within the complex had become out of control and a large fight erupted among its guests. During that fight, the victim was stabbed and suffered major injuries,” said a press release by the DPD.

The press release also said that witnesses observed a male subject with a gun but there is no evidence to indicate that shots were fired. Additionally, while DPD officers were on scene, the DPD was notified that a second victim was stabbed and was driven to a local hospital.

The investigation is ongoing and the DPD said there are a few indicators this may be a gang related incident. Anyone who has information should contact the DPD at 530-747-5400.

— Paayal Zaveri

Celebrate international beers and the best local brews this August during Davis Beer Week.

The seven day citywide beer festival, August 19 to 25, will honor regional brewing heritage while participants delight in great beers, restaurants and pubs.

Venues around town will offer intriguing domestic and international beer tastings as well as special meal-deals featuring selected beers or beer-and-food pairings. Davis Beer Week founders de Vere’s Irish Pub and Sudwerk Brewery will be joined by Bistro 33, Our House, Uncle Vito’s, Dos Coyote’s and Jack’s Urban Eats.

Festivities will peak in Central Park with the first-annual Bike & Brew Fest on Saturday, August 24 from 3:30 to 8 p.m. More than 50 domestic and international breweries will participate, including Berryessa Gap Brewery of Winters, Blue Moon, Sam Adams and Sudwerk of Davis.

The evening promises live music, food, wine, beer and an expansive Kids Zone with proceeds benefiting the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame. Tickets range from $10 (Designated Driver) to $60 (VIP Tickets).

On July 24, the University of California announced that it would implement its final wage and benefit offer after more than a year of negotiations with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

AFSCME held a two-day strike in May, calling for the capping of UC executive pensions as well as safe-staffing committees and job limits for temporary workers and volunteers.

UC is going forward with a package that includes a step increase of 2 percent as well as a 1.5 percent wage increase on Oct. 1, affecting more than 12,000 union workers, with about 2,655 at UC Davis.

According to the press release, Dwaine Duckett, the UC’s vice president for systemwide human resources and programs, “fair contract proposals with wage increases, excellent benefits and responsible pension reform” were offered, and “AFSCME repeatedly objected.”

“Having completed all stages of the bargaining process, including state-assisted mediation and fact finding, the university is legally entitled to implement its last proposal. We would have preferred to reach a settlement, but this implementation provides our patient care staff with fair wage increases and good benefits now, rather than forcing them to continue waiting through stalled negotiations,” Duckett said, according to the press release.

— Elizabeth Orpina

Former campus police lieutenant John Pike is appealing for worker’s compensation, claiming psychiatric injury caused by the Nov. 18, 2011 pepper spray incident.

According to the State Department of Industrial Relations website, his claim states “nervous system – psychiatric” damage. The case is scheduled for a mandatory settlement conference in Sacramento on Aug. 13.

In July 2012, Pike was fired as a UC Davis employee, but remains entitled to retirement credit for his years of service according to a spokesperson at the time. If he receives disability benefits, his income, health and other benefits will be covered until he turns 65.

“The university is required to follow the worker’s compensation process. We are not in agreement with the benefits being claimed,” said Andy Fell, a university spokesman, according to ABC News.

— Elizabeth Orpina

A state appellate court ruled that the University of California release the names of UC Davis police officers involved in the Nov. 18 pepper spray incident.

The 1st District Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the Los Angeles Times and The Sacramento Bee, marking the third time a court has said names should be released. An agreement between the UC Board of Regents and the FUPOA keeps the names confidential due to concerns over the police officers’ safety. The previous rulings have given the officers’ union and the Federated University Police Officers Association (FUPOA) time to appeal.

The appeals court ordered that the names be withheld for 40 days, so that the FUPOA can decide whether or not to appeal the decision.

— Elizabeth Orpina

Since August 2012, Adele de la Torre has served on an interim basis as the vice chancellor for Student Affairs ever since Fred Wood left in June 2012. De la Torre is an agricultural and health economist and internationally recognized expert on social determinants of Latino and Chicano health.

She joined UC Davis faculty in 2002, formerly chairing the Department of Chicana/o Studies and since 2004, directing the Center for Transnational Health. As the vice chancellor for Student Affairs, she will also continue her position as a faculty member in the Department of Chicana/o Studies.

In this position, she will receive a base annual salary of $235,998, according to The Davis Enterprise. Overseeing 750 staff and 3,000 student employees, de la Torre will also monitor a $400 million budget that includes enrollment, academic support, financial aid, student housing and food service, student health and psychological services and career services.

De la Torre officially assumes the position on August 1.

— Elizabeth Orpina

A Yolo County Superior Court judge set Sept. 13 as the preliminary hearing date for the suspect in the double homicide case. Daniel William Marsh, 16, will stand trial for the April 13 murders of Oliver Northup and Claudia Maupin. Marsh will be tried as an adult.

According to the Davis Enterprise, Yolo County prosecutors have about 175 police reports related to the case.

Marsh pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, and special circumstance courts regarding multiple murders, heinous and depraved murder, lying in wait and torture. He is being held without bail at Yolo County Juvenile Hall.

— Paayal Zaveri

The UC Davis all-time leader in gross punting average is packing his bags and heading to San Francisco. Aggie alum Colton Schmidt has just signed a three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers. He becomes the 16th UC Davis alum to be signed by an NFL team.

Schmidt was one of the best punters and kickoff specialists in UC Davis history. Last season, the 5-foot-11 punter from Bakersfield averaged a school record 44.5 yards per punt. This included a monster 68-yard punt against Portland State. His 44.5 yards per punt average was sixth in the nation.

Besides being the Aggies star punter, Schmidt also was their kickoff specialist. He kicked an impressive 34 of his 62 kickoffs for touchbacks. His 54.83 touchback percentage would have been sixth in the NFL this season.

Schmidt was not drafted in this year’s NFL Draft. However, this was not surprising as most kickers are not drafted or are drafted late in the draft. However, the 49ers clearly admired his abilities and offered him a three-year deal. The 49ers have looked to upgrade and provide depth for their special teams unit this offseason as they have also signed veteran kicker Phil Dawson.

According to ESPN.com, “Schmidt will compete against punter Andy Lee and kicker Phil Dawson, likely serving as backup and providing breaks for each during training camp.”

Schmidt will also most likely take the role of kickoff specialist, as he has had great success in his collegiate career. The 49ers cut tight end Kyle Nelson to make room for Schmidt. Hopefully this means that he will have a spot on the roster throughout the season.

— Kenneth Ling

Janet Napolitano, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and former Arizona governor, has been nominated for the position of 20th president of the University of California. If elected, Napolitano would become the first female president to lead the UC as well as the first leading political figure to take the helm in a position traditionally filled by academics.

According to the Daily Bruin, Napolitano received a unanimous vote from the special UC search committee designated to appoint the next president.

Napolitano will succeed former UC president  Mark G. Yudof, who announced his resignation last August.

According to the LA Times, President Barack Obama wishes Napolatino well on her new position, as well as thanked her for many years of service, including  helping secure U.S. borders and “taking steps to make our immigration system fairer and more consistent with our values.”

Kathryn Lybarger, president of the UC’s largest union, AFSCME 3299, is hopeful that the former governor will be able to tackle the many problems facing the UC today.

“While UC staff, students and patients were largely excluded from the secretive process that led to Secretary Janet Napolitano’s appointment, we appreciate her years of public service and congratulate her on becoming the next President of the University of California,” Lybarger said in a statement.

— Adam Khan

Students participating in a UC Davis Summer Abroad program in Cairo were evacuated on July 4 due to concerns about the rising political tension in the country after Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was overthrown by the Egyptian Military on July 3. The resulting violence led to around 50 civilian deaths and many more injured.

The group includes eight UC Davis students, one student from UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz and the instructor’s son. Noha Radwan, UC Davis professor of Comparative Literature and a Cairo native, led the program. They arrived on June 18 to study the works of Egyptian authors and filmmakers. They were scheduled to leave July 16.

Nine students and the instructor’s son were flown to Paris on July 4; eight returned to the U.S. and one student opted to remain in Paris. The other student flew to Istanbul. Professor Radwan opted to remain in her native Cairo. All students reached their destinations safely by July 5, according to a press release by the UC Davis News Service.

Zachary Frieders, associate director at the UC Davis Education Abroad Center, said they made the descison to evacuate students following consultation with State Department travel advisories, risk and safety leadership on campus and at the UC Office of the President. Students were not in immediate danger but Frieders said they were exercising caution in regard to how further developments would affect infrastructure and transportation. Students were staying about two miles from Tahrir Square.

“Our primary concern is the safety of students and ensuring safe passage out of the country,” Frieders said.

This is the second year the UC Davis summer abroad program was offered in Cairo. During the unrest in 2011, the University of California Education Abroad Center brought students back from programs in Cairo, Frieders said.

Each year about 1100 UC Davis students participate in study abroad programs in over 40 countries.

— Paayal Zaveri

The search for the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences began late last year; both the Recruitment Advisory Committee and External Advisory Committee have regular meetings while search consultant Alberto Pimentel recruits candidates.

In order to allow for student, faculty, staff and community participation, the decision of delaying formal campus visits until September or early October was made. The search process continues, and the Recruitment Advisory Committee plans on holding Skype interviews in early September in order to narrow the group of candidates. Round-one interviews will be conducted for ten to twelve candidates, and then the search committee will invite three to four finalists for campus visits.

A series of town hall sessions held on campus, Sacramento, Salinas, Parlier and Irvine gathered feedback and prolonged the search in March and April. Public forums will be held for the final candidates in late September/early October.

For the latest information on the search, visit http://chancellor.ucdavis.edu/initiatives/dean-college-of-ag/. To send in feedback or input, email caesdeansearch@ucdavis.edu.

— Elizabeth Orpina

Daniel William Marsh, 16, pleaded not guilty on June 19 in Yolo County Superior Court to charges that he killed elderly Davis residents Oliver Northup and Claudia Maupin on April 13. He will continue to be held without bail.

Due to his age, Marsh is not legally elegible for the death penalty or life imprisonment without possibility of parole, according to the Yolo District Attorney’s office. The Public Defender’s Office has been appointed to his case. Marsh faces two counts of first degree murder and special circumstances including torture, lying in wait and heinous and depraved murder.

His pre-hearing conference is scheduled for July 2.

— Paayal Zaveri