A SALINAS POLICE OFFICER THAT DIED ON-DUTY ALMOST 60 YEARS AGO, WILL BE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY. OFFICE EDGAR CLAUDE SMITH WAS KILLED IN AN ON-DUTY MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT IN 1945. THE DEPARTMENT WAS JUST NOTIFIED HIS NAME WILL FINALLY BE ENGRAVED ON THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON D.C. HIS NAME WILL ALSO BE READ DURING A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ON MAY 13TH , AS PART OF NATIONAL POLICE WEEK. THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THEY HAD NEVER LOST AN OFFICER IN THE LINE OF DUTY. BUT A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR BROUGHT THE INFORMATION TO LIGHT. OFFICER SMITH'S NAME WAS THEN SUBMITTED TO BOTH THE NATIONAL AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIALS. NO WORD YET OF ANY ACTION ON THE STATE LEVEL.

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, TO CLARIFY HIS EDUCATION BUDGET, AND COMBAT AN ONSLAUGHT OF OPPOSITION ADVERTISING. THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS KEEPING HIS PROMISE TO ALWAYS GIVE CHILDREN THE FIRST CALL ON THE TREASURY. HIS BUDGET GIVES EDUCATION A $2.9 BILLION INCREASE, THE LARGEST IN HIS PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN, AND THIS YEAR ALMOST $50 BILLION WILL BE SPENT ON EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA. HE SAID BILLIONS UPON BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS GO TO OUR SCHOOLS, YET CALIFORNIA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM IS FAILING OUR CHILDREN. GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER IS PROPOSING THE FOLLOWING GROUND-BREAKING REFORMS: 1. REWARD GOOD TEACHERS, 2. INCREASE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, 3. EXPAND CHARTER SCHOOLS, 4. SHOW PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS HOW THEIR EDUCATION DOLLARS ARE SPENT.
HE SAID EXCELLENT TEACHERS ARE NEGLECTED BY A SYSTEM THAT REWARDS GOOD AND MEDIOCRE ALIKE. HE SUPPORTS SENATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 1 WHICH WOULD RECOGNIZE AND REWARD GOOD TEACHERS. AND ASSEMBLY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2, WHICH WILL REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PREPARE A COMPLETE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. THAT WAY PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS CAN SEE EXACTLY HOW BILLIONS OF THEIR EDUCATION DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT.

THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LAW CENTER RELEASED A REPORT IN OAKLAND, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY. THEIR INFORMATION SHOWS THAT U. C. SERVICE WORKER WAGES ARE VERY LOW. 54% OF U.C.WORKERS EARN ENOUGH TO BARELY SUPPORT THEMSELVES. THOSE THAT HAVE FAMILIES DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO FEED THE KIDS. THE STUDY FOUND THAT SIMILAR WORKERS AT CAL STATE, AND CABRILLO MAKE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER WAGES.

THE AMERICANS FOR SAFE ACCESS GROUP FILED A LAWSUIT TODAY AGAINST THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL. THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATES ARE CLAIMING CHP OFFICERS DID NOT ABIDE BY PROPOSITION 215, WHICH IS CALIFORNIA'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA INITIATIVE. THE SUIT IS BASED ON TIFFANY SIMPSON OF RICHMOND, WHO WAS STOPPED ON INTERSTATE 580, BY A CHP OFFICER ON CHRISTMAS DAY. SHE SAID HER MARIJUANA WAS CONFISCATED, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD A LETTER FROM HER DOCTOR AND AN I-D CARD FROM A CANNABIS CLUB, ALLOWING HER TO SMOKE MARIJUANA FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES. THE OFFICER REPORTEDLY TOLD HER THE CHP DOES NOT RECOGNIZE PROP. 215.