2 CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY MEMBERS WILL BE INTRODUCING AN AID-IN-DYING BILL, MODELED ON THE SUCCESSFUL OREGON LAW. RECENT POLLS INDICATE THAT 75 PERCENT OF ADULTS IN CALIFORNIA BELIEVE THAT TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS SHOULD HAVE THE ?RIGHT TO ASK FOR (AND GET) LIFE-ENDING MEDICATION.? OREGON?S AID-IN-DYING LAW HAS REPORTEDLY WORKED FLAWLESSLY FOR MORE THAN 7 YEARS. FEW PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN MEDICATION TO HASTEN THE DYING PROCESS, BUT MANY THOUSANDS SAY THEY FIND COMFORT IN KNOWING IT IS AVAILABLE, (IF SUCH A NEED ARISES). THE LAST ATTEMPT AT LEGALIZING AID-IN-DYING (IN CALIFORNIA) WAS IN 1999, WHEN A SIMILAR BILL FAILED TO PASS. HOWEVER, RECENT CHANGES IN CALIFORNIA LAW (REGARDING PAIN MANAGEMENT, AND END-OF-LIFE CARE) HAVE RAISED THE PROSPECTS FOR THIS LEGISLATION.

A PUBLIC HEARING ON PALLIATIVE CARE: ASSISTED DYING AND ITS IMPACT ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WILL BE HELD IN LOS ANGELES THIS FRIDAY, AND A 2ND HEARING WILL BE HELD IN SAN FRANCISCO FEBRUARY 4TH.

A 21 YEAR-OLD WOMAN WAS THE VICTIM OF A STABBING ON PACIFIC AVENUE IN SANTA CRUZ YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THE HOMELESS WOMAN WAS REPORTEDLY STABBED (WHILE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE BORDERS BOOK STORE), AFTER SHE AND ANOTHER WOMAN GOT INTO A FIGHT OVER A HAT. THE 21 YEAR-OLD WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM DOMINICAN HOSPITAL.

A MAN, WHO SIMULATED HAVING A GUN, ROBBED A SALINAS BANK YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. THE ROBBER ENTERED THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK ON SOUTH MAIN STREET SHORTLY BEFORE CLOSING TIME. THE SUSPECT WAS DESCRIBED AS A LATINO MAN IN HIS LATE 30?S. HE WAS REPORTEDLY 5 FEET 8 INCHES TALL, AND WEIGHED 200 POUNDS. HE HAD A MOUSTACHE, A POCK-MARKED FACE, AND A MOLE (OR BIRTHMARK) ON HIS RIGHT CHEEK. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION ON THIS ROBBER IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IN THE CURRENT ISSUE OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE MAGAZINE, PUT OUT BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE DEMISE OF ORGANOPHOSPHATE INSECTICIDES AND RESEARCH FOR FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES IS DISCUSSED.
ORGANOPHOSPHATE INSECTICIDES ARE OFTEN ALSO TOXIC TO MANY NONTARGET SPECIES, INCLUDING HUMANS AND WILDLIFE, AND THEIR USES ARE BEING SEVERELY CURTAILED. SCIENTISTS CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE RANGE OF NUMEROUS REDUCED-RISK ALTERNATIVES. SOME INCLUDE THE USE OF PHEROMONES, WHICH ARE CHEMICALS SECRETED BY INSECTS FOR COMMUNICATION, WITH THE INTENT OF DISRUPTING INSECT MATING. THE RESULT WOULD BE A REDUCTION OF THE TARGET INSECT POPULATION. ALSO SCIENTISTS ARE LOOKING AT CULTURAL CONTROLS THAT MAKE THE CROP LESS PALATABLE TO PEST INSECTS, OR FINDING LESS TOXIC, MORE PEST-SPECIFIC ALTERNATIVE INSECTICIDES, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER OPTIONS.