MORE THAN $176,000 HAS BEEN RAISED TO SAVE THE SALINAS LIBRARY SYSTEM SO FAR. MAYOR ANNA CABALLERO INITIATED THE FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN ON FEBRUARY 3RD, AND SINCE THEN OVER 340 DONATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. THE GOAL OF THE CAMPAIGN IS TO RAISE $500,000, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE LIBRARIES TO REMAIN OPEN 1 DAY A WEEK. THE SALINAS CITY COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TUESDAY TO RESCIND EARLIER PLANS TO SHUT THE LIBRARIES DOWN, PROVIDED THE FUND-RAISING GOAL IS MET BY THE END OF JUNE.

A SUSPECT IN A RECENT HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. THE SUSPECT (WHO WAS DRIVING A CAR, THAT STRUCK AND KILLED A MAN AT THE INTERSECTION OF EAST ALISAL AND TOWT STREETS) IS BELIEVED TO BE 20 YEAR-OLD SOLEDAD RESIDENT ENRIQUE ESTANILO CEJA. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION ON HIS WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT; SO OFFICERS CAN ARREST CEJA ON CHARGES OF FELONY HIT-AND-RUN AND VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER.

THE JUDGE MOVED A MONTEREY COUNTY COURT SESSION TO THE SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WEDNESDAY. THEY WERE THERE TO GET TESTIMONY FROM A FAMILY FRIEND, WHICH COULD BE USED LATER IN COURT IF THE WITNESS IS UNABLE TO APPEAR. SHINJI AND ANGELA GRUBBS, ARE ACCUSED OF STARVING HIS BROTHER JUNJI GRUBBS TO DEATH. THE 33-YEAR-OLD DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED MAN WEIGHED ONLY 68 POUNDS, AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN MID-MARCH.

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER RECEIVED AN "A" RATING THIS WEEK FROM THE CATO INSTITUTE, A WASHINGTON, D.C.-BASED RESEARCH INSTITUTE, CALLING HIM THE NATION'S BEST OVERALL GOVERNOR FOR FISCAL PERFORMANCE. THE REPORT PRAISED THE GOVERNOR'S PERFORMANCE IN CALIFORNIA, HIGHLIGHTING HIS REPEAL OF THE CAR TAX INCREASE, PROPOSED LOWER SPENDING, THE "GARAGE SALE" HELD LAST YEAR FOR SURPLUS STATE ASSETS AND FOR HIS AMBITIOUS CALIFORNIA PERFORMANCE REVIEW. GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER WAS ONE OF ONLY TWO GOVERNORS TO RECEIVE AN "A" GRADE. THE CATO REPORT CARD'S GRADING IS BASED ON 15 OBJECTIVE MEASURES OF FISCAL PERFORMANCE. GOVERNORS WHO HAVE CUT TAXES AND HELD THE LINE ON SPENDING RECEIVED THE HIGHEST GRADES. THOSE WHO HAVE INCREASED SPENDING AND TAXES THE MOST RECEIVED THE LOWEST GRADES. THE CATO INSTITUTE ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT STATES THAT KEEP TAX RATES LOW AND RESTRAIN SPENDING GROWTH HAVE THE BEST ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND THUS THE BEST LONG-TERM FISCAL HEALTH.