A 26-YEAR-OLD FEMALE WAS ROBBED IN A SALINAS APARTMENT COMPLEX PARKING LOT, TUESDAY AT ALMOST 6:30 P.M. SHE WAS APPROACHED BY 2 HISPANIC MALES WITH DARK CLOTHING IN THE PARKING LOT ON NOICE DRIVE. 1 OF THE SUSPECTS WAS WEARING A RUBBER MASK OVER HIS FACE AND WAS ARMED WITH A SILVER HANDGUN WHILE THE OTHER MAN DEMANDED HER PURSE. ONCE THEY HAD THE PURSE THEY RAN OFF TOWARD NORTH SALINAS HIGH SCHOOL. AN AREA CHECK WAS CONDUCTED BUT THE SUSPECTS COULD NOT BE LOCATED.

A COUPLE WAS ARRESTED IN SCOTTS VALLEY YESTERDAY, AFTER THEY WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN LIVING ON A PARKED BOAT. THE VEHICLE, WHICH HAD REPORTEDLY BEEN IN GOOD CONDITION PRIOR TO THEIR STAY ABOARD, SUFFERED APPROXIMATELY 16 HUNDRED DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. BOTH 32 YEAR-OLD JAMES DE BARRIOS, AND HIS 20 YEAR-OLD ACCOMPLICE BRITTANY ROBERSON, WERE CHARGED WITH BURGLARY, NARCOTICS PARAPHERNALIA, VANDALISM, AND CONSPIRACY POSSESSION. DE BARRIOS WAS ADDITIONALLY CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF A DEADLY WEAPON. DE BARRIOS AND ROBERSON WERE BOOKED INTO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL.

CAREGIVERS ANNOUNCED TODAY THEY?VE SETTLED A SINGLE 4-YEAR CONTRACT WITH DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY HEALTH SYSTEMS. THE AGREEMENT COVERS 15 HUNDRED WORKERS AT 4 HOSPITALS, INCLUDING O?CONNOR HOSPITAL OF SAN JOSE AND ST. LOUISE REGIONAL HOSPITAL IN GILROY. THE ACCEPTED STANDARDS ALREADY GUIDE MORE THAN 60 HOSPITALS ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND INCLUDE A VOICE IN STAFFING, AND A TRAINING FUND TO MOVE WORKERS INTO HARD TO FILL POSITIONS. THE WORKERS COVERED UNDER THE CONTRACT INCLUDE LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSES, RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS, RADIOLOGY TECHNOLOGISTS, CERTIFIED NURSE ASSISTANTS, LAB ASSISTANTS, AND PHARMACY TECHS AMONG OTHERS.

THE MONTEREY COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS WAITING TO HEAR WHEN IT WILL GET ITS NEXT SHIPMENT OF THE FLU VACCINE. ALTHOUGH THE SHIPMENT IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE LARGE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE VACCINES FOR EVERYONE IN THE HIGH-RISK GROUP, IT IS HOPED THAT IT WILL AT LEAST HELP REDUCE THE NUMBERS OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO GET INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS.