January, 2010

EPA to investigate birth defects in Kettleman City

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to investigate a cluster of facial birth defects and other health issues among migrant farm workers in Kettleman City. [Los Angeles Times]. Residents of the town, a popular stop-off for drivers between the... (Continue reading)

Is Sheriff Hedges missing in action?

Is San Luis Obispo County Sheriff-Coroner Pat Hedges actively running the sheriff's department, or is he allowing a temporary employee to cover his repeated absences? Following the retirement of Undersheriff Steve Bolts on Jan. 1, Hedges declined to hire a permanent... (Continue reading)

Arnold expected at tonight’s AG council meeting

Arroyo Grande city councilman Ed Arnold is expected to attend his first city council meeting Tuesday night since being arrested and arraigned on felony charges. Arnold did not show up for a council meeting earlier this month. Arnold was arraigned... (Continue reading)

Top two sheriff officials double and triple dipping

Though highly unusual, the methods San Luis Obispo County’s two top sheriff officials have adopted to double and even triple their incomes are entirely legal. In an interesting twist, San Luis Obispo County Under Sheriff Steve Bolts is taking home between... (Continue reading)

Remembering “Mean Mike” Veron

BY DAVID CONGALTON It’s January again, so inevitably I start thinking about “Mean Mike” Veron. He died from cancer just around this time back in 1998. Hard to believe it’s been 12 years–it seems like only yesterday that Mike was... (Continue reading)

Poll: Schwarzenegger leaves state in worse shape

A new Field Poll finds that the majority of Californians believe the state is worse off now than when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger took office in 2003. [Los Angeles Times] The survey reports that 59 percent of Californians believe the state... (Continue reading)

NBC “Dateline” covers local organ donor trial tonight

NBC News plans to air a segment on Sunday night’s edition of “Dateline,” covering the 2008 trial of a physician accused of improper organ harvesting at a San Luis Obispo hospital. Dr. Hootan Roozrokh, a San Francisco physician, was charged... (Continue reading)

Cheech and Chong on Fox News

A Fox host defends Republicans’ right to smoke pot (bonus videos below). “Even Republicans should be able to get stoned, according to  Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson. While interviewing Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, Fox News’ Gretchen Carlson found herself... (Continue reading)

Oil company, environmental groups in secret deal

Three major Santa Barbara environmental groups allegedly agreed to support a controversial offshore oil drilling project in 2008, in exchange for $100,000 and other benefits. [Associated Press] The confidential agreement involved Plains Exploration & Production and local environmental groups, including... (Continue reading)

George Carpenter’s vehicle found

The Jeep Comanche vehicle belonging to missing San Luis Obispo man George Carpenter was found Saturday morning. Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies, conducting an aerial search, spotted the vehicle outside the grounds of Fort Hunter Liggett. A ground search by law... (Continue reading)