MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF MIKE KANALAKIS MADE A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT WEDNESDAY, THAT A THIRD MAN IS BEING SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH A DEADLY SHOOTING OVER THE WEEKEND. THE MURDER TOOK PLACE DURING A ROBBERY ATTEMPT AT A PRUNEDALE TACO BELL . BRENDEN TSUKIMURA, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE TACO BELL RESTAURANT, WAS THE VICTIM. 2 OTHERS ARE NOW IN JAIL IN CONNECTION WITH THE CRIME, 19-YEAR-OLD CAIN BELTRAN AND 18-YEAR-OLD GABRIEL ALCARAZ. ALCARAZ HAS CONFESSED TO HIS ROLE IN THE SHOOTING, WHILE BELTRAN HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY.

A NEW CHANCELLOR HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO LEAD U.C. - SANTA CRUZ. 45 YEAR-OLD DENICE DENTON, WHO HAS A BACKGROUND IN TEACHING, AND ENGINEERING, WILL START AT THE UNIVERSITY IN FEBRUARY. SHE COMES TO SANTA CRUZ FROM HER POSITION AS THE ENGINEERING DEAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, WHERE SHE HAS HELD THAT POSITION SINCE 1996.

A SEASIDE WOMAN DIED LAST NIGHT, AFTER THE CAR (IN WHICH SHE WAS A PASSENGER) WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. 43 YEAR-OLD MARIA MELENDEZ SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES WHEN THE VEHICLE SHE WAS IN CRASHED AT THE INTERSECTION OF HOMESTEAD AND ALISAL IN SALINAS, AROUND 9 P.M. LAST NIGHT.

ALTHOUGH 2 MONTEREY COUNTY SUPERVISORS VOTED AGAINST IT, THE MASSIVE RANCHO SAN JUAN PROJECT (TO BE CONSTRUCTED JUST NORTH OF SALINAS) WAS APPROVED LAST NIGHT. BACKED INTO A CORNER BY A LEGAL THREAT, SUPERVISORS STILL MANAGED TO ADD ENOUGH CONDITIONS THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO ALTER THE DEVELOPMENT?S SCOPE IN 6 MONTHS. CURRENTLY WHEN COMPLETE THE PLANS CALL FOR A 27 HUNDRED ACRE DEVELOPMENT AREA, THAT INCLUDES 4 THOUSAND HOMES, SEVERAL SCHOOLS, A TOWN CENTER, AND A GOLF COURSE. THE PLAN MODIFICATIONS COULD GO SO FAR AS TO REMOVE THE LOCATION AS AN ?AREA OF DEVELOPMENT CONCENTRATION? FROM THE MONTEREY COUNTY GENERAL PLAN. PRUNEDALE RESIDENT JULIE ENGELL, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RANCHO SAN JUAN OPPOSITION COALITION, SAID HER GROUP WILL CONTINUE EXPLORING ITS LEGAL AVENUES TO CHALLENGE THE BOARD'S DECISION.