SAN BENITO COUNTY SUPERVISORS HAVE MADE AN EXCEPTION TO THEIR RULE AGAINST OFFERING RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES. THE EXCEPTION WAS MADE IN ORDER TO HIRE SOMEONE WITH EXPERTISE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS TO REPLACE A MANAGEMENT ANALYST WHO RETIRED LATE DECEMBER.

THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE HAS ANNOUNCED A SETTLEMENT WITH WALGREENS TO PAY $1,425,000 FOR OVERCHARGING CUSTOMERS IN STORES. REPORTEDLY WALGREENS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES TO MATCH ITEM PRICES ON STORE SHELVES TO PRICES CHARGED AT THE REGISTER. IN RESPONSE WALGREENS WILL NOW OFFER A SCANNER PRICE GUARANTEE TO COMPENSATE CUSTOMERS AND IF AN ITEM IS PRICED INCORRECTLY CUSTOMERS WILL RECEIVE 5$ IN STORE CREDIT. A SPOKEPERSON FOR WALGREENS STATED THAT IN THE PAST DISTRICT ATTORNEYS HAVE WORKED WITH OTHER RETAILERS TO ARRIVE AT SIMILAR AGREEMENTS.

THE CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY THAT IT IS ALLOCATING $1.3 MILLION IN FUNDING TO IMPROVE HIGHWAY 1 NORTH OF SANTA CRUZ. ACCORDING TO THE COMMISSION A 10-MILE CHUNK OF HIGHWAY 1 STRETCHING FROM WADDELL CREEK BRIDGE TO LAGUNA ROAD WILL GET REDONE AT 31 SPECIFIC CRASH-PRONE AREAS. A CALTRANS SPOKESMAN JIM SHAVERS SAID CONSTRUCTION WILL LIKELY BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2013.

EARLIER TODAY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SIGNED INTO LAW THE CHANGE IN STATUS FROM PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT TO PINACCLES NATIONAL PARK. HOME TO 49 TYPES OF MAMMALS, 22 REPTILES, 6 AMPHIBIANS, AND BUTTERFLIES, DRAGONFLIES AND BEES, PINACCLES IS NOW MONTEREY COUNTY’S FIRST NATIONAL PARK. THE PARK IS THE COUNTRY’S 59^th NATIONAL PARK AND THE FIRST CREATED BY CONGRESS SINCE 2004.