A 19 YEAR-OLD MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH A FRIDAY NIGHT SHOOTING IN SALINAS, THAT LEFT AN 18 YEAR-OLD INJURED. MARCUS LUCAS, AN ADMITTED SURENO GANG MEMBER, WAS IDENTIFIED BY WITNESSES AS THE SHOOTER. LUCAS WAS BOOKED INTO MONTEREY COUNTY JAIL ON CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED MURDER, GANG MEMBER IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, FELON IN POSSESSION OF AMMUNITION, PROBATION VIOLATIONS, AND GANG CRIMES.

THE SALINAS VALLEY STATE PRISON IN SOLEDAD IS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF DEPARTMENTAL REGULATIONS. 3 STATE AGENCIES WANT TO KNOW IF ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE, THAT INMATES MAY HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN SMALL HOLDING CELLS FOR UP TO A WEEK. APPARENTLY THE STORY IS THAT 2 INMATES WHO REFUSED TO BE BUNKED TOGETHER IN THE SAME CELL, WERE KEPT IN TWO 36-BY-36-INCH HOLDING CELLS FOR SEVEN DAYS IN JANUARY. THE INCIDENT IS SAID TO HAVE ALSO INVOLVED SEVERAL PRISON STAFF MEMBERS. THE 300-ACRE SALINAS VALLEY STATE PRISON EMPLOYS 1,286 STAFF MEMBERS, AND HAS AN ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET OF $111 MILLION. THE 4,200 INMATES ARE LIVING IN THE FACILITY ORIGINALLY BUILT TO HOUSE HALF THAT NUMBER.

THE LAST MAYOR OF WATSONVILLE (ELECTED BY THE CITIZENS), ELIZBETH M. MURPHY DIED SATURDAY. KNOWN AS BETTY, BACK WHEN MAYORS WERE VOTED INTO OFFICE, SHE HELD THE TOP CITY SPOT DURING THE LOMA PRIETA EARTHQUAKE IN 1989. SHE DIED AT WATSONVILLE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AT THE AGE OF 82. MURPHY IS SURVIVED BY HER HUSBAND WILLIAM, 2 SONS, 2 DAUGHTERS, 12 GRANDCHILDREN AND 1 GREAT-GRANDCHILD. A ROSARY AND MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL WILL BE AT 11 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY AT THE OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WATSONVILLE.

A CYCLIST FROM KENTUCKY PASSES THROUGH SANTA CRUZ TODAY ON A 14 THOUSAND MILE JOURNEY. 62-YEAR-OLD JOE BOWEN IS RETRACING A TRIP HE MADE 38 YEARS AGO, BUT THIS TIME HE CARRIES A LAPTOP COMPUTER, AND IS TEACHING AN ONLINE CLASS TO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN KENTUCKY AND ELSEWHERE. HE WON'T BE DIFFICULT TO SPOT WITH THE "KENTUCKY UNBRIDLED SPIRIT" LICENSE PLATE ON JOE'S BICYCLE, AS HE MAKES HIS WAY NORTH ON HIGHWAY 1. YOU CAN TRACK HIS PROGRESS ONLINE AT

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