2 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT ON SOUTHBOUND HIGHWAY 101, IN THE SOLEDAD AREA LAST NIGHT. A CHILD, AND AN ELDERLY WOMAN, WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE, AFTER THEY WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE IN WHICH THEY WERE RIDING WITH 3 OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS (WHO SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES). THE FAMILY?S MINIVAN WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHEN IT WAS SIDESWIPED, AFTER ANOTHER DRIVER REPORTEDLY LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE WHILE RACING DOWN HIGHWAY 101. ALTHOUGH THE DRIVER WHO CAUSED THE ACCIDENT RAN FROM THE SCENE, HE WAS ARRESTED A SHORT TIME LATER. HE WAS BOOKED INTO MONTEREY COUNTY JAIL ON CHARGES OF FELONY D.U.I., HIT AND RUN, AND VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER.

THE WATSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS INVESTIGATING A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE THOUGHT TO BE MANUFACTURING AND SELLING FRAUDULENT GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS FOR THE PAST 8 MONTHS. WHILE SERVING SEARCH WARRANTS TO 2 HOMES, OFFICERS FOUND, FAKE SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, AND PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY RESIDENT ALIEN CARDS. THE SUSPECTS WHO RANGE IN AGE FROM 37 TO 42, WERE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HUNDREDS OF FRAUDULENT I.D. CARS WITH EQUIPMENT INCLUDING COMPUTERS, PRINTERS, AND LAMINATION SYSTEMS. EVANGELINA VAZQUEZ, TERESA RUIZ, AND FRANCISCO ALVAREZ WERE ARRESTED AND ALL BOOKED INTO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL.

SANTA CRUZ CITY WORKERS WILL BE VOTING ON A TENTATIVE CONTRACT AGREEMENT, THAT WAS REACHED YESTERDAY. MEMBERS OF LOCAL 415 (OF THE S.E.I.U.) ARE SET TO BEGIN VOTING TONIGHT AT 5 P.M., AND THE VOTING TIME WILL END NEXT WEDNESDAY. THE MOST RECENT CONTRACT OFFER APPEARS TO HAVE ADDRESSED WORKERS CONCERNS REGARDING WAGES AND BENEFITS.

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER TODAY ANNOUNCED THE RECIPIENTS OF THIS YEAR'S ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP AWARDS. RECIPIENTS ARE CHOSEN FROM THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. LOCAL RESIDENT JEFF DLOTT IS THE ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING PRACTICES RECEIVING THE AWARD. THE GROUP WAS INITIATED IN 2001 BY THE WINE INSTITUTE AND CALIFORNIA WINEGRAPE GROWERS. ANOTHER WINNER WAS BRYAN CONDY OF SCOTTS VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL. HE DEVELOPED A RECYCLING PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL TO REDUCE WASTE ON CAMPUS AND GENERATE MONEY AT THE SAME TIME. TO DATE, THE SCHOOL HAS KEPT OVER 42 THOUSAND BOTTLES OUT OF THE LANDFILL, AND RAISED OVER 14 HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE SCHOOL. ALSO NAMED WAS THE O'NEILL SEA ODYSSEY. THE SHIP IS A LIVING CLASSROOM THAT HAS GIVEN ABOUT 27 THOUSAND STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY THE MONTEREY BAY MARINE SANCTUARY.