THE TRANSPORTATION AGENCY OF MONTEREY COUNTY HAS AGREED TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR PLANS FOR A TRANSPORTATION CENTER IN SALINAS. TOWARDS THAT END THEY WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NECESSARY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES. CURRENTLY THE SALINAS RAIL DEPOT IS USED ONLY AS AN AMTRAK STATION??BUT T.A.M.C. WANTS IT TO BECOME A RAIL AND BUS STATION. IF THE PLANS MOVE FORWARD (AS PROPOSED), THE AGENCY WOULD HAVE TO USE THE AMERICAN SUPPLY BUILDING FOR PARKING, A MOVE THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN ?EMINENT DOMAIN? ACTION.

DRAFT COPIES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES WILL LIKELY BE COMPLETED SOMETIMES THIS SUMMER. THE FINAL E.I.R. IS SCHEDULED TO BE FINISHED BY MARCH OF 2006.

THERE ARE ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT FOR CALIFORNIA TAX CHEATERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FIRST GENERAL AMNESTY OFFER IN TWO DECADES. APPLICANTS CAN SHED PENALTIES ON UNPAID PERSONAL INCOME TAXES, CORPORATE TAX, AND USE TAXES INCURRED IN 2002 AND EARLIER YEARS. BUT THOSE WHO PASS UP THE AMNESTY WILL FACE NEW AND STIFFER PENALTIES. SO FAR, THE FRANCHISE TAX BOARD AND THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION HAVE NETTED LESS THAN 10 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S GOAL. BUT OFFICIALS ARE HOPEFUL SINCE IN THE PAST HUGE NUMBERS OF PROCRASTINATORS CAME THROUGH THE LAST MINUTE. THE AMNESTY PERIOD TECHNICALLY CLOSES MARCH 31ST , BUT APPLICANTS GET AN EXTRA DAY BECAUSE IT'S A STATE HOLIDAY. ONCE THEY FILE, THEY HAVE UNTIL MAY 31ST TO PAY UP.

A FELTON MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE THEFT OF A VEHICLE, AND A HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT (THAT TOOK PLACE IN APTOS LAST WEEK). WHEN THE C.H.P. STOPPED 19 YEAR-OLD TIMOTHY COLE REDMON LATE MONDAY NIGHT, HE HAD A 17 YEAR-OLD GIRL IN HIS STOLEN VEHICLE. THE GIRL, WHO HAD ALREADY BEEN REPORTED AS ?MISSING?, WAS RETURNED TO HER MOTHER, AND REDMON WAS BOOKED INTO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL.

2 ROBBERIES TOOK PLACE IN SALINAS YESTERDAY....

IN THE 1ST , A 62 YEAR-OLD MAN WAS ROBBED AT KNIFEPOINT SHORTLY BEFORE 4 P.M., WHILE HE WAS USING A PAYPHONE IN SALINAS. THE 2 HISPANIC MALE SUSPECTS WERE DESCRIBED AS BEING IN THEIR LATE TEENS. BOTH WERE AROUND 5 FEET 4 INCHES TALL, WITH MEDIUM BUILDS. THE SUSPECTS TOOK THEIR VICTIM'S WALLET AND THEN FLED THE SCENE ON FOOT.

??AND IN THE 2ND , 2 HISPANIC MALES ROBBED A WOMAN AND HER SON WHILE THEY WERE IN NATIVIDAD CREEK PARK, SHORTLY BEFORE 5:30 P.M. IN THAT ROBBERY ALL THE SUSPECTS GOT WERE THE WOMAN'S CAR KEY?S.