Grover Beach man beats woman with shotgun
Grover Beach police arrested a man early Friday morning for striking a woman in the head with the butt-end of a shotgun. Johnny Luther Renfro, 65, struck a 48-year-old woman several times in the head and torso with a loaded shotgun, according to the Grover Beach Police Department. The victim...
State judge tosses SLO ballot measure, restores binding arbitration
A California administrative law judge has overturned the results of a 2011 city of San Luis Obipso election that eliminated binding arbitration for police officers and firefighters. Last week, California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) Judge Valerie Pike Racho voided the results of Measure B, which passed with 73 percent...
Central Coast man sues casino over losses
A Ventura businessman filed suit against a Las Vegas casino after he lost $500,000 playing drunk on Super Bowl weekend. Mark Johnston, 52, filed suit against the Downtown Grand for giving him a line of credit and serving him drinks when he was visibly intoxicated and blackout drunk. Johnston said...
SLO police officer accused of forcing sex on informant
Former San Luis Obispo police officer Cory Pierce allegedly forced an informant to have sex with him, according to a civil rights lawsuit recently filed in federal court. In February, FBI agents arrested Pierce after an undercover investigation revealed the officer stole drugs from the evidence locker, held guns on...
Mecham says Paso Robles water district dead
By DANIEL BLACKBURN A controversial water district proposal sponsored by a group of vintners and ranchers and intended to manage the Paso Robles aquifer probably will not pass constitutional muster, and its primary backer said he is “disheartened.” “It looks like it’s dead,” said First District Supervisor Frank Mecham about...
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CalCoastNews reporters have uncovered cases of real estate fraud, embezzlement, and elder abuse that have led to arrests and public awareness. Reporter and CCN co-founder Daniel Blackburn covers water issues in the North County. His understanding of water politics is unmatched by other reporters in the area because of his...
Central Coast farmworkers oppose processing center
Central Coast farmworkers are strongly objecting to a proposed Santa Maria facility for processing convicted criminals who are illegal immigrants. Immigrants would be photographed and fingerprinted in the facility before being transferred to Southern California or deported. Federal and local officials had viewed the facility as non-controversial. However, many immigrant...
