A FORMER MONTEREY COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN A SALINAS COURTROOM TODAY. MARGARET O'SHEA IS ACCUSED OF PRACTICING LAW IN CALIFORNIA WITHOUT A LICENSE. THE BRIEF HEARING ALSO INCLUDED A REQUEST FROM HER ATTORNEY TO REMOVE THE LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY FROM THE CASE. IN THE 3 WEEKS O'SHEA WAS EMPLOYED AT THE MONTEREY COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, SHE WORKED ON 70 CASES. THE STANFORD GRADUATE RESIGNED WHEN IT BECAME KNOWN THAT SHE IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA BAR.

A PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT WITH AT LEAST 1 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SUPERMARKET CHAIN WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY THE WORKER'S UNION. THE AGREEMENT REACHED WITH RALEY'S, LEAVES SEVERAL OTHER SUPERMARKET GIANTS STILL IN NEED OF CONTRACT AGREEMENTS. THE CONTRACTS WITH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GROCERY WORKERS AT SAFEWAY AND ALBERTSON'S EXPIRE ON JANUARY 15TH. MEANWHILE THE RALEY'S DEAL WILL BE PRESENTED TO UNION MEMBERS, WHO ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON IT BY WEDNESDAY.

THE MONTEREY COUNTY FOOD BANK RECEIVED A $200,000 GRANT FROM THE DAVID AND LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION, OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS. THE NONPROFIT FOOD BANK IN MONTEREY PROVIDES NEARLY 6 MILLION POUNDS OF EMERGENCY FOOD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY EACH YEAR. THE MONEY WILL ALSO HELP FUND THE COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN AMERICA'S 2005 HUNGER STUDY.

THE DIOCESE OF MONTEREY SUBMITTED A REPORT TO MONTEREY CITY OFFICIALS THAT FINDS RESTORATION OF THE HISTORIC MARSH BUILDING FINANCIALLY UNFEASIBLE. THE 76-YEAR-OLD BLUE-ROOFED LANDMARK WAS FENCED OFF FOR SAFETY EARLIER THIS MONTH. STRATEGIC CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OF SANTA CRUZ PRODUCED THE REPORT, AND ESTIMATED IT WOULD COST $4.7 MILLION TO BRING THE BUILDING BACK TO ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS. THEY ALSO CITED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUCTURE, INCLUDING THE DIFFERENCES IN SOIL COMPRESSION UNDERNEATH THE FOUNDATION, WHICH WAS CAUSING UNEVEN SETTLING.