SUPREME BLOW… The California Supreme Court on May 26 decided that voters legally outlawed same-sex marriage through Proposition 8. The much-anticipated decision doesn’t dissolve the unions of 18,000 gay and lesbian couples sanctioned before the measure took effect. But it does diminish any hope from local activists that the state court would see Prop. 8 as an illegal constitutional amendment. The fight over who can walk down the aisle rages on with gay-rights advocates talking about a future ballot measure to overturn Prop. 8. [ZS]

WATER ON THE BRAIN… Monterey County Supervisors were first scheduled to approve the Monterey Regional Water Projects Planning MOU on April 28 – a pledge to work with other local agencies on the regional water-supply project that would include a desal plant near the dunes in North Marina and recycled water, and is an alternative to California American Water Company’s proposed Moss Landing desalination plant. That got derailed as water watchdogs of all stripes told the Supes to slow down, and the board continued the MOU to the May 19 meeting. The water item, as the Weekly reported last week, was continued to a date uncertain. But now, says Supervisor Lou Calcagno, things are back on track, and the board will take another look at the MOU on June 2. Supervisors meet at 10:30am, in the Supervisors’ Chambers, 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas. [JL]

ENDOWMENT EYES EASTSIDE… The California Endowment recently approved a planning grant for a 10-year initiative to revamp East Salinas. The Community Foundation for Monterey County is facilitating the planning stage of “Building Healthy Communities,” which will pump millions of dollars into Salinas’ poorest neighborhoods to address healthcare, education, housing and youth violence. The Community Foundation will next form committees and start reaching out to residents to create a strategic plan. [ZS]