ACCORDING TO STATE FARM INSURANCE CALIFORNIA HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DOG BITE CLAIMS.    AT LEAST ONE DOG BITE REPORT IS FILED IN SALINAS EVERY DAY, AND IN RESPONSE THE ANIMAL SHELTER HAS CREATED A PROGRAM FOR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOGS.  IN 2003 ALMOST 17 THOUSAND DOG BITE CLAIMS WERE MADE COSTING 10 THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH ON AVERAGE.     IF BITTEN IT IS RECOMMENDED TO SEE A DOCTOR REGARDLESS OF SEVERITY OF THE BITE.

TEACHERS, IN THE SALINAS UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO RATIFY A NEW CONTRACT. ABOUT HALF OF THE TEACHERS CAST BALLOTS IN TUESDAY'S ELECTION.....WITH MORE THAN 97 PERCENT VOTING TO APPROVE THE NEW CONTRACT. IT'S NOW UP TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO EITHER APPROVE OR REJECT THE NEW CONTRACT. IF the BOARD APPROVES IT, THE CONTRACT WILL COVER FROM JULY 1 OF 2012 UNTIL JUNE 30 OF 2015. THIS NEW CONTRACT IS SAID TO BE THE SAME AS THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED BY BOTH SIDES APRIL 25 .

THE TEACHERS' PREVIOUS CONTRACT EXPIRED IN JUNE OF 2011.

SALINAS NATIVE JODI ARIAS CAN RECEIVE THE DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING HER FORMER BOYFRIEND, TRAVIS ALEXANDER. THE SAME JURY THAT CONVICTED ARIAS OF MURDER A WEEK AGO, TOOK ONLY 3 HOURS TODAY TO DECIDE SHE IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY. THE FINAL PHASE OF THIS ARIZONA COURT CASE IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TOMORROW (THURSDAY) MORNING.

A 24 YEAR-OLD LOMPOC MAN, (WHO IS SAID TO BE “AT-RISK”, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BEEN TAKING HIS 'MENTAL HEALTH MEDICATIONS'), HAS BEEN REPORTED MISSING, AND IS THOUGHT TO BE HEADED NORTH UP THE CALIFORNIA COAST. BLAKE GREGORY LEWOLT, WHO IS 5 FOOT 7 INCHES TALL, AND WEIGHS 160 POUND, HAS DARK BROWN, VERY CURLY, HAIR AND A BEARD, WAS LAST SEEN IN LOMPOC AT A HOMELESS SHELTER LAST THURSDAY, IN SANTA MARIA ON SATURDAY, AND AT OCEANO DUNES ON MONDAY. ANYONE WITH ANY IDEA OF LEWOLT'S WHEREABOUTS IS ENCOURAGED TO CALL 9-1-1.