A GROUP OF 7 SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL INMATES ARE REFUSING TO EAT THEIR MEALS. THEY WERE ISOLATED AFTER A SERIES OF ASSAULTS ON OTHER PRISONERS, AND ARE USING THE MEAL HUNGER STRIKE AS A PROTEST TO THEIR SEGREGATION. BUT THE MOVE MIGHT BE ONLY SYMBOLIC SINCE REPORTEDLY THE GROUP PURCHASED $130 WORTH OF SNACKS AT THE COMMISSARY LAST WEEK. SEVERAL ASSAULTS IN RECENT MONTHS CAUSED JAIL OFFICIALS TO TAKE THE ACTION OF SEPARATING THE 7 SUSPECTED TROUBLEMAKERS, WHO ARE PART OF A UNIT OF 16 PRISONERS. THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL POPULATION IS CURRENTLY AT ABOUT 560.

A LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED THAT CLAIMS THAT MONTEREY COUNTY IS WITHHOLDING PUBLIC RECORDS ABOUT THE PLANNED SEPTEMBER RANCH SUBDIVISION. THE 110-HOME PROJECT WOULD ?DEVELOP? A LANDMARK CARMEL VALLEY RANCH. THIS LATEST LAWSUIT IS BASED ON THE COUNTY?S REFUSAL TO TURN OVER STUDIES (AND DOCUMENTATION) ABOUT THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT.

THE FEMALE GREAT WHITE SHARK, THAT WAS ON DISPLAY IN THE ?OUTER BAY EXHIBIT? AT THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM, HAS BEEN RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD. AQUARIUM PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER KEN PETERSON SAID THEY RELEASED HER JUST BEFORE SUNRISE?..AT 5:45 A.M., JUST OUTSIDE THE MONTEREY BAY, AND A LITTLE SOUTH OF POINT PINOS.

THE FATE OF A MONTEREY COUNTY COUPLE IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF A JURY. JURORS BEGAN DELIBERATIONS IN THE CASE OF SHINJI AND ANGELA GRUBBS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THE COUPLE WAS CHARGED WITH FELONY ABUSE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF SHINJI?S DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED YOUNGER BROTHER. 33 YEAR-OLD JUNJI GRUBBS WEIGHED JUST 68 POUNDS AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH.