2010

PG&E admits to thousands of inaccurate utility bills

Consumer advocates are calling for a moratorium on the so-called SmartMeters after PG&E admitted Monday that as many as 23,000 customers statewide received inaccurate electricity bills. [Mercury News] PG&E could not pinpoint how many of those customers were overcharged, or... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande athletes face burglary charges

Arroyo Grande police last Friday asked the San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s office to file criminal charges against six junior varsity baseball players and a junior varsity track team member at Arroyo Grande High School, who are suspected of participating... (Continue reading)

Entire state tax board on the June ballot

All four members of a powerful though low profile tax board are up for grabs in June. [LATimes] California’s Board of Equalization is the nation’s only elected state tax board. The board settles state taxpayer disputes and determines which corporations... (Continue reading)

County supervisors to pressure state over Dunes pollution

County supervisors are expected to decide Tuesday whether to send a letter to the State Parks Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Division in an attempt to pressure state officials into getting more involved in the ongoing health debate about the Oceano Dunes... (Continue reading)

Missing at-risk adult in San Luis Obispo found

The San Luis Obispo Police Department and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team were searching for an at-risk missing developmentally disabled adult. James Pasquale, 42, returned on his own to the Sunset Drive-in last night at... (Continue reading)

New CSU websites designed to promote transparency

A recent executive order from Governor Schwarzenegger has prompted many of the 23 California State University campuses to start posting information online about their contracts with vendors, external audits, and financial statements. [California Watch] The governor issued the order last... (Continue reading)

Grand opening of Paradise Patio Bar, May 8

Tucked behind Ian McPhee’s sits the newly opened Paradise Patio Bar at the Avila Beach Golf Resort. At Friday’s debut, guests enjoyed ocean views and the scenic golf course backdrop along with an assortment of grill appetizers. A step away... (Continue reading)

Major gang bust in Santa Maria

Santa Maria police arrested dozens of gang members in a sweeping crackdown on gangs, drugs and violence. [KSBY] On Thursday and Friday, police arrested 35 members of the West Park Criminal Street Gang at numerous locations throughout the area. Charges... (Continue reading)

Digital strip-search: Case of lost iPhone prototype shows the danger of using search warrant to seize journalists’ information

By PETER SCHEER Search warrants have always been a blunt instrument for finding evidence of crime. Think of television cop shows from the 70s and 80s: A police search of an apartment for drugs was, de facto, a license to... (Continue reading)

Democrats sue to block special election date

Angry Democrats have gone to federal court in an attempt to block the upcoming special state Senate race between Republican Sam Blakeslee and Democrat John Laird. [San Francisco Chronicle] A lawsuit filed Thursday in San Jose on behalf of three... (Continue reading)