Officer Cleared… Nearly a year after the shooting, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced Aug. 24 that it won’t file charges against a Salinas police officer who unloaded two clips while shooting and killing an Iraq War veteran armed with a loaded AK-47-style assault rifle. The DA’s office says Officer Louis Plunkett acted in self-defense when he fired two magazines of bullets at Philip Michael Dorado of Castroville on Aug. 31, 2008. Plunkett shot eight times after Dorado pulled the assault rifle from his waistband. [ZS]

Calcagno’s Challenger… North Monterey County land use activist Ed Mitchell this week announced his candidacy for District 2 supervisor. Mitchell and his wife Jan have fought developments like Rancho San Juan and founded the Prunedale Neighbors Group. He’ll challenge longtime supervisor Lou Calcagno in 2010. “Unfortunately, our current representative has been on the wrong side of too many issues,” Mitchell said. “Instead of working with residents and the community interests, our current supervisor has fought the will of the people, through two initiatives and one referendum.” [ZS]

PUC Backs Cal Am… It’s no surprise that California American Water opposes the state water board’s draft cease and desist order, which would require the company to ratchet down its illegal diversions from the Carmel River, implement water conservation measures and find alternative water supplies. Less predictable was an Aug. 20 letter backing Cal Am from the state Public Utilities Commission. “It would be disruptive to impose immediate and harsh water supply reductions on Cal Am,” PUC director Paul Clanon wrote, noting Monterey Peninsula residents have already achieved the lowest per-capita water consumption in the state. In early July, PUC ordered Cal Am to tighten up its water systems. [KA]

Gimme Shelter… Community Home Services celebrates the opening of its newest program, Safe Passages, a homeless shelter for youths ages 18-21, with an open house on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 3-6 pm. The co-ed shelter was the subject of an April 16 Weekly cover story, “Invisible Children.” The shelter is a drug – and alcohol-free environment; resident stays vary from 18-24 months, with rents affordable at only 30 percent of the client’s gross income. [PW]