WITH ALL OF THE TRAVELERS HITTING THE SKIES THIS YEAR, TRIPLE A OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OFFERS SOME SAFE TRAVELING TIPS, WHICH MAY COME IN HANDY TO PEOPLE FLYING TO SEE FAMILY AND LOVED ONES. THE MOST DANGEROUS SEAT ON A PLANE IS THE ISLE SEAT. ABOUT 1,500 PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN INJURED BY FALLING LUGGAGE FROM OVER HEAD BINS. SHIP GIFTS IN ADVANCE, SINCE AIRPORT SECURITY WILL OFTEN ASK YOU TO UNWRAP YOUR GIFTS. LEAVE 30 MINUTES EARLY TO THE AIRPORT, AND CALL AHEAD TO MAKE SURE THAT AIRPORT PARKING LOTS HAVE SPACE. EXPLAIN TO CHILDREN EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND AVOID LETTING CHILDREN CARRY BULKY BACKPACKS AND EXTRA LUGGAGE. AAA ALSO RECOMMENDS BRINGING SNACKS AND BOTTLED WATER, IN THE CASE OF FLIGHT DELAYS. FOR MORE INFO LOG ONTO WWW.AAA.COM.

THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED A MINOR DECOY OPERATION SATURDAY NIGHT, AND CAUGHT SEVERAL BUSINESSES WILLING TO SELL ALCOHOL TO MINORS. 15 BUSINESSES WERE CONTACTED IN THE CITY OF SALINAS, AND 3 CLERKS SOLD ALCOHOL TO THE UNDERCOVER TEEN. THE 3 EMPLOYEES WERE CITED FOR SELLING AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TO A MINOR.

THE CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TODAY PETITIONED THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION (KNOWN AS FERC) TO COMPEL THE FINANCIALLY TROUBLED CALPINE CORPORATION TO CONTINUE PROVIDING ELECTRICITY TO THE STATE UNDER A LONG-TERM CONTRACT. THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE TO STRENGTHEN THE RELIABILITY OF THE STATE'S POWER SUPPLY, AND SAVE CALIFORNIA RATEPAYERS AN ESTIMATED $625 MILLION THROUGH ITS EXPIRATION DATE OF 2009. THE CONTRACT WAS ENTERED INTO BY SAN JOSE- BASED CALPINE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE ENERGY CRISIS, AND RENEGOTIATED IN 2002. ATTORNEY GENERAL LOCKYER SAID CALPINE PROFITED BY MORE THAN $400 MILLION WHEN THE PRICES IT RECEIVED UNDER THIS CONTRACT EXCEEDED MARKET RATES. BUT NOW THAT THE TIDE HAS TURNED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, HE SAID CALPINE MUST HOLD UP ITS END OF THE BARGAIN.

THE FOOD BANK FOR MONTEREY COUNTY RECEIVED A LARGE FINANCIAL BOOST TO THEIR EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE HARDEN FOUNDATION GRANTED THE FOOD BANK PROGRAM $50,000. THE EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST DIRECT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM AT THE FOOD BANK. THE NON-PROFIT GIVES EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD TO 50,000 MONTEREY COUNTY RESIDENTS EACH MONTH, WHICH ADDS UP TO NEARLY 6 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD EACH YEAR.