THE SEARCH FOR A MISSING SWIMMER NEAR PALM STATE BEACH HAS BEEN CALLED OFF. THE MAN WAS REPORTEDLY LOST WHILE SWIMMING WITH FRIENDS OFF THE COAST NEAR WATSONVILLE YESTERDAY. THE 3 FRIENDS REPORTEDLY ENTERED THE WATER NEAR THE PAJARO RIVER AROUND 2 P.M., AND ONE OF THEM WAS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SWEPT AWAY BY THE CURRENT. ALTHOUGH HIS FRIENDS TRIED TO RESCUE HIM, THEY COULDN?T.

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY RELEASED A REPORT THAT FINDS CONDITIONS IN THE MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL SANCTUARY IMPROVING. THE LAND-SEA PARTNERSHIPS REPORT FINDS OUR BAY WATERS CLEANER, AND THE MARINE LIFE HEALTHIER, SINCE THE SOIL ON THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF FARMLAND IS ERODING LESS. THE REDUCTION OF RUN OFF HAS BEEN A GOAL OF LOCAL FARMERS, AND 700 OF THEM HAVE TAKEN COURSES TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL. AN ESTIMATED 450,000 TONS OF SOIL IS STAYING ON THE LAND INSTEAD OF BEING WASHED DOWN INTO MONTEREY BAY OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS.

INTEREST IN A SANTA CRUZ COUNTY COLD CASE WAS RENEWED THIS WEEKEND. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF NANCY MACDUCKSTON WAS REVIEWED BY THE "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED" TELEVISION SERIES. POLICE FROM HER HOMETOWN OF BELMONT ARE INVESTIGATING SOME 20 NEW LEADS IN THE CASE DERIVED AFTER THE SHOW?S AIRING. MACDUCKSTON VANISHED AFTER BEING SEEN IN DAVENPORT IN AUGUST OF 2003, WITH AN ASIAN OR POLYNESIAN MAN. HER CONNECTION WITH HIM (IF ANY) IS UNCERTAIN. HER MINIVAN WAS ABANDONED ALONG HIGHWAY 1, AND AUTHORITIES FOUND HER EMPTY BEACH CHAIR AND SUNHAT NEARBY.

A BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY THAT WOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT AND MORE EXPENSIVE, FOR COMMUNITIES TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN WATER. AB 1397 WOULD REQUIRE A PUBLIC AGENCY PROVE THAT A WATER COMPANY HAD REPEATEDLY BROKEN THE LAW BEFORE IT COULD BE TAKEN OVER PRIVATELY. THE BILL WAS SUBMITTED JUST UNDER THE BILL SUBMISSION DEADLINE.