THE CONTROVERSIAL KRISTIE'S LAW FAILED TODAY DURING A HEARING BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY. KRISTIE'S LAW IS NAMED IN HONOR OF KRISTIE PRIANO, A 15-YEAR OLD HONOR STUDENT WHO WAS KILLED DURING A POLICE PURSUIT IN JANUARY, 2002. THE LAW WHICH WOULD ENACT STRICTER GUIDELINES FOR POLICE INVOLVED IN CHASES, WAS GRANTED A "RECONSIDERATION VOTE" NEXT WEEK IN THE SAME COMMITTEE.

A PASSENGER'S JOKE AT THE SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT WAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY WHEN ABOUT 100 PASSENGERS ON FLIGHT 561 TODAY WERE GROUNDED. ONE PASSENGER JOKINGLY REFERRED TO A BOMB INSIDE HIS LARGE PIECE OF LUGGAGE, WHICH HE REFUSED TO CHECK FOR A FLIGHT TO EL SALVADOR. THE FLIGHT WAS DELAYED ABOUT 4 AND A HALF HOURS WHILE PASSENGERS WERE THOROUGHLY CLEARED BY AUTHORITIES, INCLUDING THE F.B.I. ANY TYPE OF BOMB THREAT (INCLUDING A JOKE) AT AN AIRPORT, IS A FEDERAL OFFENSE THAT COULD CARRY PRISON TIME AND A $10,000 FINE.

ABOUT 2 OUT OF EVERY 3 AREA HOMES HAVE A FIREPLACE OR WOOD BURNING STOVE, AND MANY OF THEM ARE GOING UNUSED BECAUSE OF HEALTH AND POLLUTION CONCERNS. ED KENDIG, THE ENFORCEMENT MANAGER AT THE MONTEREY BAY UNIFIED AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT SAYS, MANY OLD-STYLE FIREPLACES OR STOVES ARE VERY INEFFICIENT. HE SAYS FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW THERE HAS BEEN A NEW GENERATION OF WOOD BURNING STOVES AND FIREPLACES THAT ARE EPA CERTIFIED. THOSE GREATLY IMPROVE THE COMBUSTION THAT GOES ON, AND REDUCE POLLUTANTS. PUBLIC SUPPORT IS GROWING FOR BANNING OLD-FASHIONED FIREPLACES IN NEW HOMES. A RECENT POLL OF 700 RESIDENTS IN 9 CALIFORNIA COUNTIES, FOUND WOOD BURNING FIREPLACE (OR STOVE) USE DOWN. SOME 43 PERCENT OF THOSE OWNING THEM RESPONDED THEY DID NOT PLAN TO USE THEM THIS WINTER. THEY REPORTED THE REASON WAS GROWING HEALTH CONCERNS ABOUT WOOD SMOKE.

SERIOUS CUTS IN SALINAS CITY LIBRARY HOURS BEGIN NEXT WEEK. EVEN THOUGH THE RALLY SALINAS CAMPAIGN HAS SURPASSED THEIR GOAL OF 500 THOUSAND DOLLARS, IT IS ONLY ENOUGH MONEY FOR A PART TIME SCHEDULE. ON MAY 3RD THE CESAR CHAVEZ AND JOHN STEINBECK BRANCH LIBRARIES WILL CLOSE AN ADDITIONAL DAY EACH WEEK, AND THE EL GABILAN BRANCH WILL LOSE TWO ADDITIONAL DAYS. THE TOTAL CITY LIBRARY HOURS WILL BE REDUCED FROM 96 TO 49 HOURS PER WEEK. THE CITY EXPECTS TO MAKE FURTHER REDUCTIONS IN JUNE WHEN THE RALLY SALINAS CAMPAIGN BECOMES THE SOLE SOURCE OF FUNDING.