News Briefs

Electricity rates drop slightly
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. rates dropped by 0.8 percent on Jan. 1. The rate is forecast to increase slightly in March, but it will remain about 2.3 percent lower than what it was in March 2010.
The January decrease reflects higher operating costs that are offset by lower energy purchasing costs.
Prolific author to visit Santa Cruz
Maya Angelou, the writer of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” among other acclaimed titles, will speak Feb. 12 in Santa Cruz in association with University of California, Santa Cruz, and the Friends of Santa Cruz Public Libraries.
Angelou will speak at 8 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, 307 Church St.
Tickets range from $35 to $65. They are available at the Civic box office or at www.santacruztickets.com.
Local TV station to offer ABC programming
KSBW-TV 8, the NBC affiliate in Monterey, Salinas and Santa Cruz, will add the ABC network lineup to its digital multicast channel this spring.
ABC primetime, daytime and network news and top syndicated shows will be available on the Central Coast on the over-the-airwaves channel 8.2. The new ABC channel will also be carried on Comcast Cable.
KSBW local and NBC programming will continue on channel 8, Comcast channel 6 and Comcast HD channel 706.
To comment or submit information for brief news items, e-mail pb******@*********er.com or post a comment on www.pressbanner.com.