Beach cleanup to be held Save Our Shores will hold a beach cleanup from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 11, at Monterey State Beach. Check in at the main parking area North of Best western Hotel at Highway 1 and Canyon Del Rey Boulevard in Seaside. All materials will be provided.

Fight over benefits spurs Carmel hotel strike Workers at the Pine Inn and Tally Ho Inn — the last unionized hotels in Carmel — began picketing early Wednesday, launching a two-day strike over health care benefits.

Former AT&T Pro-Am director Lou Russo dies at 80 Wednesday was a day of mourning for many at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am as news spread about the death of Lou Russo, former executive director of the tournament. Mr. Russo, executive director from 1984-1998, died early Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 80.

Your Town: Alzheimer's series focuses on parents The Alzheimer's Association will hold a three-part series on aging parents at the Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St. Part one, "Help! Mom and Dad are Still Driving," will be held 1 to 3 p.m. Friday.

Police briefs: HAZMAT team investigates white powder A suspicious envelope containing white powder led to the closure of a road in Oak Hills late Tuesday for about four hours until county hazardous-material specialists found the material posed no danger.

Women, children held at gunpoint in home invasions Two women and two children were held at gunpoint by three men during a home-invasion robbery early Wednesday, Salinas police said. One woman opened the front door of a residence in the 1100 block of Raven Court when someone knocked about 9 a.m.

Robber in standoff overdosed A man who held up a downtown Monterey pharmacy took a fatal amount of drugs while holed up in a nearby restaurant bathroom during a three-hour standoff with SWAT police.

Schools ponder effects of budget School districts are begging to digest what Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal means, and it's not very encouraging. At best, schools would receive pretty much the same amount of money they are getting now.

Lawmakers seek FORA extension New legislation authored by four state lawmakers would continue the Fort Ord Reuse Authority for another decade. The legislation, Assembly Bill 1614, was introduced Wednesday by Assemblyman Bill Monning, D-Carmel, and would extend the authority's sunset date from 2014 to 2024.

Watsonville jeweler shot in robbery attempt WATSONVILLE — The owner of a Freedom Boulevard jewelry store was shot in the ear during an armed robbery late Wednesday. Sgt. Tony Magdayao said a man clad in black with a black mask over his face brandished a handgun at the store's owner and demanded jewelry and cash about 6:25 p.m.