THE WATSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS OBTAIN DRIVER?S LICENSES.
IN A VOTE OF 5 ? 2 THE COUNCIL VOTED IN FAVOR OF BACKING A STATE SENATE BILL (AUTHORED BY GIL CEDILLO OF LOS ANGELES). LAST YEAR, GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER VETOED A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED IMMIGRANTS TO LEGALLY DRIVE. SINCE THEN, LATINO ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN WORKING TO CREATE A NEW LAW. WATSONVILLE MAYOR ANA VENTURA PHARES SAID SHE SUPPORTS THE DRIVER?S LICENSE BILL, BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY ROADS SAFER.

THE OPPONENTS OF THE CONTROVERSIAL RANCHO SAN JUAN PROJECT GOT ENOUGH VALID SIGNATURES TO PUT THE PROJECT TO A COUNTYWIDE VOTE. MONTEREY COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, TONY ANCHUNDO, SAID ELECTION OFFICIALS HAVE VERIFIED THE SIGNATURES, AND THE CERTIFIED COUNT WILL BE SENT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. THE BOARD WILL THEN DECIDE WHETHER TO REPEAL THEIR APPROVAL OF THE RANCHO SAN JUAN PROJECT, PLACE A REFERENDUM ON THE JUNE 2006 BALLOT, OR SET A SPECIAL ELECTION.

CONGRESSMAN SAM FARR SAYS HE IS DISAPPOINTED WITH PRESIDENT BUSH?S DECISION TO SPEND ONLY 50-MILLION-DOLLARS A YEAR TO COMBAT GANG VIOLENCE. FARR SAID 50-MILLION DOLLARS IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE ENTIRE U-S. HE?S ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE 440-THOUSAND-DOLLARS (THAT MONTEREY COUNTY RECEIVED LAST YEAR IN FEDERAL FUNDING, TO KEEP SCHOOLS SAFE AND HELP AT-RISK YOUTH) COULD BE IN JEOPARDY.

THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO ELIMINATE FUNDING FOR 150-PROGRAMS TO HELP REDUCE THE 427-BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.

A 20 YEAR-OLD GILROY MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH A MORGAN HILL STABBING, THAT TOOK PLACE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. ANTHONY AGUILERA IS SCHEDULED TO BE ARRAIGNED ON FEBRUARY 22ND. HE FACES CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AND EVADING ARREST.

HE ALSO FACES OTHER CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH SEVERAL OTHER UN-CONNECTED INCIDENTS. HE IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BAIL, IN A SANTA CLARA COUNTY JAIL FACILITY.