A INMATE AT SALINAS VALLEY STATE PRISON WAS CONVICTED WEDNESDAY FOR POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. INMATE RUDY RAMOS WAS IN JAIL FOR AN ARMED ROBBERY CONVICTION. TESTS CONDUCTED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CONFIRMED THAT THE SUBSTANCE FOUND IN RAMOS' CELL, WAS 1.16 GRAMS OF HEROIN. THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR THE CONVICTION IS 8 YEARS IN PRISON. SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 17TH.

A SALINAS GANGSTER WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON ON WEDNESDAY FOR HIS PART IN THE NUESTRA FAMILIA PRISON GANG. GANG MEMBER RICO GARCIA WAS CONVICTED IN FEDERAL COURT FROM EVIDENCE DEVELOPED IN OPERATION BLACK WIDOW. HIS OFFENSES INCLUDE HOMICIDE, AND CRIMINAL RACKETEERING. OPERATION BLACK WIDOW WAS A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION OF THE NUESTRA FAMILIA GANG, AND ITS STREET OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. AT LEAST 75 PEOPLE WERE PROSECUTED AS PART OF OPERATION BLACK WIDOW, INCLUDING SPIN-OFF STATE AND FEDERAL PROSECUTIONS.

RESEARCHERS, USING DATA COLLECTED FROM PARKFIELD CALIFORNIA, SAY THEY DISCOVERED A PATTERN IN THE TREMORS. THE 2 SCIENTISTS ARE ROBERT NADEAU AND DAVID DOLENC FROM U.C. BERKELEY. OVER A HUNDRED TREMORS WERE RECORDED BY PARK FIELD'S HIGH RESOLUTION SEISMIC NETWORK, WHICH IS CENTERED 20 MILES UNDERGROUND. IT IS HOPED THE PATTERN OF THE EARTHQUAKES FOUND IN THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT DATA, MAY SOMEDAY AIDE IN UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY OF EARTHQUAKES.

A 2 ALARM FIRE BROKE OUT WITH AN EXPLOSION AT ABOUT 9 A.M. TODAY (YESTERDAY), ACCORDING TO BRANCIFORTE FIREFIGHTERS . THE HOME WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN 5 MINUTES. THE STRUCTURE WAS ON MILL ROAD, NEAR GLEN CANYON ROAD IN SANTA CRUZ. MUTUAL AIDE WAS REQUESTED AND CENTRAL, SCOTTS VALLEY AND SANTA CRUZ CITY FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED. THE FAMILY PET (A DOG) DIED IN THE FIRE, AND A RESIDENT RECEIVED ONLY A MINOR INJURY.