SALINAS POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTED A FELON WHO WAS IN POSSESSION OF FIREARMS, INCLUDING A SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN. FRANCISCO GONZALEZ WAS FIRST ARRESTED FOR HAVING A LOADED SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL IN HIS VEHICLE, DURING A TRAFFIC STOP. THEN A SEARCH OF HIS RESIDENCE AT EAST MARKET AND PAJARO REVEALED HE WAS ALSO IN POSSESSION OF A SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN. THE 28-YEAR-OLD WAS BOOKED FOR SEVERAL WEAPONS CHARGES.

CALIFORNIA STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION JACK O'CONNELL CAME TO SEASIDE TODAY WHERE HE CRITICIZED GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZNEGGER'S EDUCATION BUDGET. HE SPOKE AT SEASIDE HIGH SCHOOL, ASKING PEOPLE TO FIGHT FOR EDUCATION FUNDING. O'CONNELL SAID ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNOR PROMISED TO FULLY FUND PROPOSITION 98, HIS BUDGET IS $2.3 BILLION BELOW WHAT THE PROPOSITION GUARANTEES. HE SAID ABOUT 43 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE, ARE ON THE EDGE OF BANKRUPTCY. ALMOST HALF OF THE CHILDREN IN CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS COME FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, AND ONE IN FOUR CALIFORNIA STUDENTS LEARN ENGLISH AFTER ENTERING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

NOW A FEDERAL AUDIT WILL BE MADE OF THE SPENDING PRACTICES OF CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE KEVIN SHELLEY. THE U.S. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION VOTED TO AUDIT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN QUESTIONABLE EXPENDITURES FROM HIS OFFICE. A STATE AUDIT LAST MONTH FOUND MISMANAGED $27.3 MILLION SENT TO CALIFORNIA TO UPDATE VOTING PROCEDURES. A NUMBER OF NEWSPAPERS HAVE CALLED FOR SHELLEY'S RESIGNATION INCLUDING THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, AND OTHERS. A SPOKESPERSON FROM SHELLEY'S OFFICE SAID THE SECRETARY IS CONFIDENT THAT ANY AUDIT WILL CLEAR HIS OFFICE OF ANY WRONGDOING.

ON THE SAME DAY AS THE ALISAL/ MONTEREY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME WAS POSTPONED (DUE TO THREATENING PHONE CALLS), A SOUTH MONTEREY COUNTY GIRLS SOCCER MATCH WAS CANCELLED, BECAUSE OF A BOMB SCARE. THE BOMB SCARE WAS CALLED IN TO SOLEDAD HIGH SCHOOL, AFTER THE MEMBERS OF SAN JUAN BAUTISTA?S ANZAR HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER TEAM ARRIVED FOR THEIR 5:30 GAME. SOLEDAD HIGH WAS CLOSED DOWN, AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SEARCHED THE CAMPUS. NO MAKE-UP DATE WAS ANNOUNCED FOR THAT SOCCER MATCH.