New news on old news.

Staff

Thursday, February 25, 2010

For the Archives…The 43-year-old Pacific Grove Museum Assocation has approved its own extinction. Ninety-two percent of the association’s voting members agreed to transfer the organization’s assets to the Museum Foundation of Pacific Grove, the new private-public partnership in charge of running the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. [KA]

Biodiesel Booster…U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is pushing Congress to renew the $1-per-gallon tax credit for producers of biodiesel—which could help revive priced-out blenders like Rich Gillis of Gonzales-based Energy Alternative Solutions, and allow Monterey Salinas Transit to jump-start its stalled plans for biofueled buses. [KA]

Doing Fine…Monterey ranks 16th among 56 California counties in overall health outcomes, according to a new report by County Health Rankings. But we place a more middlin' 29th rank in terms of health factors, which take into account health behavior, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment. [KA]

Kicking It…The Salinas City Council Feb. 23 approvedCK an agreement with Monterey County outlining a land swap that will advance plans for a regional soccer complex. The Salinas Regional Sports Authority can now pursue state funding for 11 additional soccer fields proposed for county-owned land on Constitutional Boulevard. [ZS]

Guv Love…Salinas and Monterey County will collaborate on dramatically expanding the city's redevelopment areas, building a government campus, tackling gang violence and finding a location for a new county jail, Mayor Dennis Donohue and Board of Supervisors Chairman Simón Salinas said Feb. 18 in a joint speech. [ZS]

Pot Potential…Monterey is a step closer to approving medical marijuana dispensaries after a Feb. 16 City Council vote directing staff to draft rules to regulate them. Meanwhile medical pot entrepreneur Daniel Maniscalco reports he’s rented a shop in PG and is waiting for that city’s medical marijuana rules. [RU]

Bush Backs…Carmel mayoral candidate Adam Moniz. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has weighed in on Carmel’s mayoral race with a $100 donation to Moniz who’s up against 5-term incumbent Sue McCloud in the April contest. [RU]