PROSECUTORS HAVE ASKED A JUDGE TO DISMISS THE ELDER ABUSE CHARGES AGAINST A MONTEREY COUNTY COUPLE. THAT AFTER 37 YEAR-OLD SHINJI GRUBBS AND HIS 44 YEAR-OLD WIFE, ANGELA, WERE ACCUSED LAST YEAR OF STARVING TO DEATH GRUBB?S DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED YOUNGER BROTHER, AS WELL AS GRUBB?S 77 YEAR-OLD MOTHER. ALTHOUGH THE CHARGES HAVE BEEN DROPPED IN CONNECTION WITH THE OLDER WOMAN?S DEATH, THE COUPLE IS STILL SCHEDULED TO BE TRIED IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED MAN. JURY SELECTION IN THAT CASE IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN MARCH 7TH.

former senator Bruce McPherson, a longtime Republican legislator from Santa Cruz, has been named California's 29th Secretary of State, by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Due to term limits, Mcpherson was forced out of the Senate last year. The 61 year-old former senator is described as fiscally conservative, and a social moderate....who is pro-environment.

SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS REPORTEDLY WANT THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO BLOCK A REQUEST TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF A LOCAL QUARRY. THAT?S BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT THE EXPANSION WOULD ENLARGE THE RESERVOIR, AND THAT WOULD DROWN SEVERAL PLANT SPECIES (THAT THRIVE NEAR THE RESERVOIR, BUT WOULDN?T SURVIVE UNDER WATER). THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY DOESN?T WANT WATSONVILLE-BASED GRANITE ROCK COMPANY EXPANDING SODA LAKE, WHICH IS LOCATED OFF HIGHWAY 129. THE COMPANY SAYS THAT EXPANSION IS NECESSARY SO THEY CAN STORE MINING DEBRIS THERE.

A SOLEDAD HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR POSSIBLE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT. REPORTEDLY THE F.B.I. ASSURED THE SCHOOL?S PRINCIPAL THAT THE TEACHER?S ACTIONS DID NOT PUT ANY OF THE SCHOOL?S STUDENTS OR STAFF AT RISK. PAUL GRENNAN HAD TAUGHT LIFE SKILLS, AND DRIVER?S EDUCATION AT SOLEDAD HIGH SCHOOL SINCE 2001.