A STATE MEDIATOR WILL BE USED IN CONTRACT TALKS IN SANTA CRUZ. IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT CITY OFFICIALS AND ITS MIDDLE MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS WILL USE MEDIATORS IN THEIR NEGOTIATIONS. THE EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTED BY OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL UNION 3, SAW THEIR CONTRACT EXPIRE IN DECEMBER. UNION LEADERS SAY THEY ARE UPSET WITH THE CITY?S PROPOSED CHANGES IN SHIFT DIFFERENTIALS FOR MIDDLE MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS.

SIX SALINAS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE FACING EXPULSION, AND PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES AFTER IT WAS FOUND THEY WERE HACKING INTO THE SCHOOL?S COMPUTER SYSTEMS. SALINAS POLICE CITED THE STUDENTS AFTER CONDUCTING A 3 MONTH INVESTIGATION. ALTHOUGH IT WAS FOUND THAT AT LEAST ONE GRADE WAS CHANGED, IT IS NOT THOUGHT THAT GRADES WERE THE MOTIVATING FACTOR IN THE SITUATION. THE STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY SUSPENDED AND THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR COSTS IN THE INVESTIGATION, REPAIRS AND INCREASED NETWORK SECURITY.

SANTA CRUZ POLICE AND THE COUNTY SHERIFF-CORONER?S OFFICE HAVE RULED THE DEATH OF A BODY FOUND IN THE OCEAN OFF WEST CLIFF DRIVE TO BE A SUICIDE. THE BODY WAS IDENTIFIED AS A 28 YEAR OLD MAN FROM WALNUT CREEK. HIS FAMILY BECAME WORRIED ABOUT HIS LOCATION IN LATE JANUARY AFTER FINDING A SUICIDE NOTE. HIS BODY, BADLY DECOMPOSED, WAS FOUND EARLY LAST WEEK WITH A CHAIN AROUND THE WAIST. INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD TO BE THE CAUSE OF DEATH.

A REPORT RELEASED DETAILING CHANGES IN COUNTY HOTEL AND LODGING OCCUPANCY RATES IN 2004 HAS BROUGHT CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM REGARDING TRAVEL AND TOURISM. THE REPORT WAS RELEASED TO THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CONFERENCE AND VISITORS COUNCIL BY A TENNESSEE BASED TRAVEL RESEARCH COMPANY. THE REPORT STATES HOTEL AND LODGING OCCUPANCY RATES ARE UP 4 PERCENT FROM 2003. MANY COUNTY AGENCIES ARE HOPEFUL THAT 2005 WILL CONTINUE AND PERHAPS EXPAND ON THAT TREND.