THE SEASIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING THE INJURY OF 2 SCHOOL OFFICIALS, AS A HATE CRIME. ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL BILL MURPHY AND BASEBALL COACH RANDY BISPO WERE BEATEN BY A GROUP OF MEN HARASSING THE ALISAL TEAM AS THEY BOARDED THEIR BUS AFTER THE GAME TUESDAY NIGHT. THE INJURIES TOOK PLACE AT SEASIDE HIGH SCHOOL AFTER THE MEN WERE ASKED TO LEAVE, OR THE POLICE WOULD BE CALLED. MURPHY ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL WITH CUTS TO HIS HEAD, AND BISPO HAD AN EYE INJURY. 1 MAN WAS IDENTIFIED TO POLICE AS A FORMER SEASIDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. POLICE SAY THEY EXPECT TO ARREST AND CHARGE 4 INDIVIDUALS IN THE CASE TODAY.

A WATSONVILLE MAN WAS INDICTED LAST WEEK ON FEDERAL CHARGES. LLOYD THOMPSON JUNIOR IS 1 OF 2 MEN FACING CHARGES IN A $20 MILLION BOGUS INSURANCE SCAM. RECORDS SHOW THAT 68-YEAR-OLD THOMPSON WAS A LICENSED INSURANCE BROKER AT ONE TIME, BUT HIS LICENSE EXPIRED IN 1994. THE COUNTERFEIT INSURANCE POLICIES WERE ALLEGEDLY SOLD TO CUSTOMERS ALL OVER THE WORLD, AS PART OF AN ELABORATE SHAM.

A BADLY DECOMPOSED BODY WAS FOUND IN THE WATERS OFF WEST CLIFF DRIVE AND AUBURN STREET IN SANTA CRUZ TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE SKULL BONE AND HAND SKELETAN WERE VISIBLE, WHERE CLOTHING DID NOT COVER THE BODY. POLICE INVESTIGATING THE DISCOVERY SAY THE DEATH IS BEING TREATED AS SUSPICIOUS, AND THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY. NO IDENTITY HAS BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME, PENDING A CORONOR'S INVESTIGATION.

THE PLIGHT OF THE SALINAS LIBRARY SYSTEM HAS COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. THE ASSOCIATION'S PRESIDENT-ELECT MICHAEL GORMAN IS GATHERING A DELEGATION OF STATE AND NATIONAL LIBRARY LEADERS THAT WILL COME TO SALINAS WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23RD . ACCORDING TO GORMAN, DURING THEIR VISIT THEY WILL LISTEN, LEARN, AND SHARE RESOURCES, IN HOPES OF CONTINUING LIBRARY SERVICES THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO BE LOST. HIS ORGANIZATION BELIEVES THAT EVERY AMERICAN IS ENTITLED TO HIGH QUALITY LIBRARY SERVICE IRREGARDLESS OF THEIR ECONOMIC STATUS. GORMAN, WHO IS ALSO THE HEAD LIBRARIAN FOR THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, SAYS THEY WILL ESPECIALLY BE LOOKING FOR INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS.