A NEW CHP STUDY SUGGESTS OFFICERS ARE SPENDING MOST OF THEIR TIME INVESTIGATING ACCIDENTS, INSTEAD OF PREVENTING THEM. THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A VICIOUS CIRCLE THAT FORCES OFFICERS TO SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME WRITING UP ACCIDENT REPORTS. THE STUDY RECOMMENDED THE USE OF CIVILIAN PERSONNEL TO MANAGE PAPERWORK AND DIRECT TRAFFIC, IN ORDER THAT THE LIMITED NUMBER OF CHP OFFICERS HAVE THE TIME, TO DO THEIR JOB MORE EFFECTIVELY.

AN AMBER ALERT WAS ISSUED LAST NIGHT, IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CITY OF RIALTO. 6 YEAR-OLD AKIRA HERNANDEZ IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN ABDUCTED FROM HER NORTH JOYCE AVENUE HOME AROUND 10?30 LAST NIGHT. AUTHORITIES BELIEVE HER ABDUCTOR IS DRIVING A 1999 WHITE FORD ESCORT WAGON WITH THE CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATE:

4 NCT041

AKIRA IS 3 FEET TALL, AND SHE HAS BROWN HAIR AND HAZEL EYES. SHE WAS LAST SEEN WEARING A PINK HAT, A BLACK AND WHITE SCARF, AND BLUE PANTS.

ANYONE WHO SEES AKIRA (OR THE WHITE ESCORT WAGON) IS ASKED TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

THE SALINAS MAYOR?S OFFICE REPORTS THEIR INTENTION TO REVEAL A PLAN THURSDAY AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, THAT WOULD SAVE THE CITY LIBRARY SYSTEM. REPORTEDLY MAYOR ANNA CABALLERO?S STRATEGY WOULD STRENGTHEN OTHER CITY SERVICES AS WELL. THE "RALLY SALINAS" PLAN IS SAID TO COMBINE A TAX INITIATIVE WITH DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY. COMPLETE DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE THURSDAY NIGHT, WHEN CABALLERO HAS SCHEDULED A 6 P.M. AT CITY HALL TO OFFICIALLY UNVEIL THE PLAN.

A LOCAL TEEN IS CREDITED WITH SAVING A WOMAN?S LIFE OVER THE WEEKEND. THAT AFTER 17 YEAR-OLD FREEDOM RESIDENT SCOTT MICHAEL SHAW WENT INTO A SCOTTS VALLEY MOBILE HOME (AND RESCUED A WOMAN) AFTER ?DISCARDED CIGARETTE MATERIALS? STARTED A FIRE. SHAW NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE MOBILE HOME, WHILE HE WAS VISITING WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND. WHEN HE WENT TO THE MOBILE HOME?S DOOR HE COULD HEAR A WOMAN MOANING, AND SO HE WENT IN AND RESCUED HER. THE VICTIM IS IN CRITICAL, BUT STABLE, CONDITION AT SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER. THE DAMAGE TO THE MOBILE HOME WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 150 THOUSAND DOLLARS.