January, 2010

Poll: Californians believe state headed in wrong direction

The majority of California adults now believe the state is heading in the wrong direction, according to a poll released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California. [Associated Press] Poll results find that 74 percent believe things in California... (Continue reading)

Are patients dying while hospitals battle over profits?

While San Luis Obispo County hospitals are devoting major marketing dollars to the battle over who is in the best position to treat trauma cases, people with major life-threatening injuries may not be getting the critical care they need, when... (Continue reading)

AG’s Zac Efron makes all the right moves

Arroyo Grande native-turned-Hollywood-star Zac Efron is ready for his Hollywood close-up with a pair of new movie projects, designed to shake up his Disney-fied teen idol image. [Deadline Hollywood] Efron has just inked a deal with Universal Pictures to star... (Continue reading)

Here comes the sun (for awhile)

PG&E weatherman John Lindsey says the rain storm originally expected to come our way on Thursday and Friday will now largely bypass the Central Coast, except for a few scattered showers Friday evening. Expect mostly clear, dry, days until the... (Continue reading)

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)

Schwarzenegger: Build prisons in Mexico

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is floating a new idea to deal with overcrowded California prisons. The governor wants to build private facilities in Mexico to hold the estimated 20,000 undocumented immigrants currently in state prisons. [Ventura County Star] Under Schwarzenegger’s plan,... (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)

Cracking down on California ski resorts

A bill is being introduced in Sacramento, intended to crack down on California ski resorts. [San Francisco Chronicle] Under the legislation introduced by Assemblyman Dave Jones (D-Sacramento), ski resorts will have to publish reports on how many people are killed... (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)