A RECENT SALINAS SHOOTING INJURY HAS TURNED INTO A HOMICIDE. THE 19 YEAR-OLD HISPANIC VICTIM WAS AIRLIFTED TO A BAY AREA HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION FRIDAY NIGHT. AUTHORITIES NOW REPORT THAT SALINAS RESIDENT LUCAS FLORES DIED FROM THE GUNSHOT WOUND TO HIS HEAD. THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN THE 800 BLOCK OF EAST STREET AT ALMOST 9:15 P.M. FRIDAY. SALINAS POLICE DETECTIVES ARE INTERVIEWING SEVERAL WITNESSES AND LOOKING FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO MAY HAVE INFORMATION ON THIS SHOOTING.

A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS STUDYING CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOUND THEY LAG BEHIND ALMOST EVERY OTHER STATE IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, FUNDING, TEACHER QUALITY AND FACILITIES. RECENT REPORTS FROM THE RAND CORPORATION, EDUCATION TRUST-WEST, AND THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT, (AMONG OTHERS) SUGGEST THAT A COMBINATION OF FACTORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO AN ALARMING DEGRADATION OF THE STATE'S SCHOOLS OVER TIME. ONCE AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION, NOW CALIFORNIA URBAN HIGH SCHOOLS WERE LABLED ``DROPOUT FACTORIES.'' THE CAUSES OF THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE FACTORS FROM BUDGET CUTS TO A LACK OF POLITICAL WILL. THE REPORTS CONTEND THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL (TO PAY TEACHERS ACCORDING TO MERIT, RATHER THAN SENIORITY) HARDLY SCRATCHES THE SURFACE OF THE PROBLEMS. CALIFORNIA RANKS ABOUT 42ND, OUT OF 50 STATES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION SPENDING. DEMOCRAT LEON PANETTA CALLED THE CURRENT WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN SCHWARZENEGGER AND TEACHERS' UNIONS, COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.

A BODY SEEN FLOATING IN THE SANTA CRUZ YACHT HARBOR ON FRIDAY HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AS THAT OF A MISSING JUVENILE SWIMMER. THE SHERIFF-CORONER?S OFFICE WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM THE BODY WAS THAT OF 14 YEAR OLD CHARLIE LEO HARRISON OF SANTA CRUZ THROUGH DENTAL RECORDS. HARRISON HAD GONE MISSING EARLIER THIS MONTH AFTER BEING SWEPT OUT TO SEA AT NATURAL BRIDGES STATE BEACH.

A TEST DRIVE OF A NEW CAR IN PAJARO LED TO THE ARREST OF A 24 YEAR OLD MAN ON CHARGES OF CAR-JACKING, KIDNAPPING, AND FALSE IMPRISONMENT. CORBYN MITCHELL WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE THREATENED TO SHOOT AND STUFF THE SALESMAN WHO WAS ACCOMPANYING HIM ON A TEST DRIVE INTO THE TRUNK OF THE NEW CAR. THE SALESMAN JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR WHILE IT WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. HE HAD ALREADY GIVEN MITCHELL HIS WALLET. MITCHELL WAS FOUND LATER AFTER USING THE SALESMAN?S CREDIT CARDS, AND WAS APPREHENDED BY MONTEREY COUNTY POLICE, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SHERIFFS.