A NEW CHANCELLOR HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO LEAD U.C. - SANTA CRUZ. 45 YEAR-OLD DENICE DENTON, WHO HAS A BACKGROUND IN TEACHING, AND ENGINEERING, WILL START AT THE UNIVERSITY IN FEBRUARY. SHE COMES TO SANTA CRUZ FROM HER POSITION AS THE ENGINEERING DEAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, WHERE SHE HAS HELD THAT POSITION SINCE 1996.

ALTHOUGH 2 MONTEREY COUNTY SUPERVISORS VOTED AGAINST IT, THE MASSIVE RANCHO SAN JUAN PROJECT (TO BE CONSTRUCTED JUST NORTH OF SALINAS) WAS APPROVED LAST NIGHT. BACKED INTO A CORNER BY A LEGAL THREAT, SUPERVISORS STILL MANAGED TO ADD ENOUGH CONDITIONS THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO ALTER THE DEVELOPMENT?S SCOPE IN 6 MONTHS. CURRENTLY WHEN COMPLETE THE PLANS CALL FOR A 27 HUNDRED ACRE DEVELOPMENT AREA, THAT INCLUDES 4 THOUSAND HOMES, SEVERAL SCHOOLS, A TOWN CENTER, AND A GOLF COURSE. THE PLAN MODIFICATIONS COULD GO SO FAR AS TO REMOVE THE LOCATION AS AN ?AREA OF DEVELOPMENT CONCENTRATION? FROM THE MONTEREY COUNTY GENERAL PLAN. PRUNEDALE RESIDENT JULIE ENGELL, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RANCHO SAN JUAN OPPOSITION COALITION, SAID HER GROUP WILL CONTINUE EXPLORING ITS LEGAL AVENUES TO CHALLENGE THE BOARD'S DECISION.

A SEASIDE WOMAN DIED LAST NIGHT, AFTER THE CAR (IN WHICH SHE WAS A PASSENGER) WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. 43 YEAR-OLD MARIA MELENDEZ SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES WHEN THE VEHICLE SHE WAS IN CRASHED AT THE INTERSECTION OF HOMESTEAD AND ALISAL IN SALINAS, AROUND 9 P.M. LAST NIGHT.

BECAUSE OF A RECENT COURT RULING, MOUNTAIN BIKES ARE BANNED FROM A LARGE PART OF THE FOREST OF NISENE MARKS STATE PARK. THE BIKES WON'T BE ALLOWED BEYOND THE STEELE BRIDGE, ON A PATH THAT PARALLELS THE APTOS CREEK FIRE ROAD. BIKES WILL BE ALLOWED THOUGH, IN THE LOWER THOUSAND ACRES OF THE PARK NEAR THE ENTRANCE.