A SALINAS RESTAURANT WAS ROBBED AT GUNPOINT YESTERDAY EVENING. THE SUSPECT, WHO ROBBED THE DENNY?S ON DE LA TORRE, WAS DESCRIBED AS A HISPANIC MALE WHO WAS BELIEVED TO BE IN HIS 20?S. HE WAS A LITTLE OVER 6 FEET TALL, AND APPEARED TO WEIGH ABOUT 180 POUNDS. HE REPORTEDLY HAD A SMALL SILVER HANDGUN IN HIS RIGHT HAND, AS HE GRABBED CASH FROM THE CASH REGISTER DRAWER. THE ROBBER FLED THE EATERY ON FOOT AFTER THE 5:30 P.M. ROBBERY. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION ON THIS INCIDENT IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

A LEADING AUTHORITY ON RELIGIOUS APOCALYPTIC THINKING WILL BE SPEAKING AT U.C. - SANTA CRUZ THIS WEEKEND. PROFESSOR RICHARD LANDES, A HISTORIAN AND AUTHOR (WHO TEACHES AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY), WILL BE GIVING A FREE LECTURE CALLED ?APOCALYPTIC JIHAD, ISLAM, AND THE WEST? ON SUNDAY AT 7 P.M., IN THE STEVENSON EVENT CENTER. THIS LECTURE IS SPONSORED BY ?SCHOLARS FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST?, AND ?SPEAKING FOR DEMOCRACY?.

THE CENTRAL COAST SECTION (C.C.S.) HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS WILL BEGIN TONIGHT AS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED. THIS ACCORDING THE TO THE C.C.S. WEBSITE, AFTER A GROUP OF SCOTTS VALLEY PARENTS HAD SOUGHT LEGAL ACTION. THE PARENTS HAD SOUGHT AN INJUNCTION, BUT ACCORDING TO THE C.C.S. WEBSITE, THE DECISION WAS TO DENY THE INJUNCTION.

AFTER A 3-DAY JURY TRIAL IN MONTEREY COUNTY, A MAN WAS CONVICTED OF FAILING TO PROVIDE FOR A CHILD, AND CONTEMPT OF COURT. IT?S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT 57 YEAR-OLD RONALD T BAKER HAS BEEN IN A COURTROOM ON THESE KINDS OF CHARGES, BUT THIS TIME HE WAS REMANDED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VERDICT, AND WAS SENTENCED TO SPEND 6 MONTHS IN JAIL. BAKER NOW OWES MORE THAN 532 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PAST DUE FAMILY SUPPORT (AND INTEREST).