Guess this winter really is that bad.

Pioneer Press political reporter Jason Hoppin — who holds down the beat with Bill Salisbury — is moving to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, according to a staff memo (below). Hoppin, a California native, ascended to the state Capitol bureau after Rachel Stassen-Berger moved to the Star Tribune in mid-2009.

According to PiPress Senior Editor/Local News Sue Campbell, the job will be posted this week. In the most recent two vacancies, the PiPress has promoted from within, and then filled whatever job remains from the outside. Hopefully, that will be the pattern again.

Hoppin's departure was announced the same day that editor Thom Fladung announced he was leaving the paper.

Here's the staff memo:

Jason Hoppin is leaving the Pioneer Press to return to California, his home state. He’s accepted a reporting job at the Santa Cruz Sentinel, another MediaNews Group paper.

During his six years at the Pioneer Press, Jason has been involved in several high profile stories, including the bridge collapse aftermath, Denny Hecker, the Republican National Convention, and of course two state-wide recounts. We have valued his ability to see the big picture, report the details and make the whole package interesting.

Jason started as a North suburban reporter covering courts and communities. In 2005, he moved to St. Paul City Hall, and last year he landed in the Capitol.

He’s a quick study, has a keen nose for when to zag and is all kinds of awesome (a phrase that was suggested to us by sources to remain unnamed).

While we're sad to lose him, we wish him all the best in his return home.

"Now Henry gets to learn how to surf," Jason told us.

We plan to replace Jason as soon as possible. Look for a job posting this week.