A MAN DRIVING A STOLEN MINI-VAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER A HIT-AND-RUN CRASH IN SALINAS. THE WEDNESDAY MORNING CRASH LEFT A WOMAN CRITICALLY INJURED. ACCORDING TO POLICE, 24-YEAR-OLD MARCO RUIZ HIT A 43-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WALKING ON SHERWOOD DRIVE, WITH THE MINIVAN HE TOOK. TRYING TO GET AWAY RUIZ ALSO BACKED INTO TWO POLICE CARS. THE WOMAN IS IN AN I-C-U UNIT IN CRITICAL CONDITION. SHE LOST HER RIGHT EYE, HAS A BROKEN PELVIS, MULTIPLE RIB FRACTURES, AND TRAUMA TO HER HEAD. . RUIZ WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND FACES MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES.

HE WAS EXPECTED TO SHOW UP THIS MONDAY, BUT NOW EMBATTLED SECRETARY OF STATE KEVIN SHELLEY HAS AGREED TO TESTIFY FEBRUARY 3RD. AT THAT TIME HE WILL GO BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING HIS USE OF FEDERAL ELECTION FUNDS. RECENTLY LOCAL STATE SENATOR JEFF DENHAM CALLED FOR SHELLEY'S RESIGNATION. IT REPORTEDLY TOOK THE THREAT OF A SUBPOENA BY COMMITTEE CHAIR ASSEMBLYWOMAN NICOLE PARRA, FOR SHELLEY TO "ACCEPT HER INVITATION TO TESTIFY."

THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS CLOSED SIX AREA WATERWAYS THIS WEEK, DUE TO UNSAFE BACTERIA LEVELS. AS USUAL AFTER STORMS, THE DEPARTMENT FOUND HIGH BACTERIA LEVELS, AND CLOSED THE MOUTH OF VARIOUS RIVERS THAT SPILL INTO THE OCEAN. THOSE AFFECTED ARE APTOS CREEK AT RIO DEL MAR BEACH, THE SOQUEL CREEK MOUTH AT CAPITOLA BEACH, THE SAN LORENZO RIVER MOUTH, PORTER GULCH CREEK AT NEW BRIGHTON BEACH, SCHWAN LAGOON AT TWIN LAKES BEACH, AND NEARY LAGOON AT COWELL BEACH. HIGH LEVELS OF COLIFORM BACTERIA WERE FOUND IN THOSE AREAS, WHICH ARE A DANGER TO HUMANS. THERE IS A PROVEN DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WATER-RELATED ILLNESS IN PEOPLE, AND HIGH LEVELS OF THE BACTERIA .

PRISON SYSTEM WORKERS AT THE STATE CORRECTIONAL TRAINING FACILITY IN SOLEDAD, PROTESTED BY MARCHING AND HOISTING SIGNS. THEY REJECT GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER'S PROPOSED $98 MILLION CUT IN THE PRISONER REHABILITATION BUDGET. THE DEMONSTRATORS ARE PART OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION. THEY ARGUE THE CUTS WOULD ENDANGER COMMUNITIES, AND THAT PRIOR BUDGET CUTS ALREADY REDUCED OR ELIMINATED VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS AT MOST CALIFORNIA PRISONS.