2012

Megastorms could flood portions of California’s Central Coast

Editor’s note: The article will appear in the January 2013 issue of Scientific American. They are making it freely available now because of the flooding underway in California. By Michael D. Dettinger and B. Lynn Ingram Huge flows of vapor... (Continue reading)

ASH fined for assaults on employees

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health fined Atascadero State Hospital $27,000 for an ongoing pattern of patient assaults on employees. A Cal/OSHA investigation determined that from January to September patients caused an average of 10 injuries per month... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria woman’s torture trial starts next week

A Santa Maria woman who allegedly punished her then 2-year-old daughter for playing with her makeup by holding the child’s hands in scalding tap water almost three years ago is scheduled to begin trial next week. [SantaMariaTimes] Lorena Arenas, 26,... (Continue reading)

Hash oil lab causes explosion in Morro Bay

Morro Bay police discovered a hash oil lab Wednesday after responding to a gas explosion that burned a man. [Tribune] An explosion around 4:30 p.m. blew out the windows of a Morro Bay duplex on the 800 block of Napa... (Continue reading)

Union Bank to lay off up to 400 Central Coast employees

Union Bank officials are heading up the coast from Santa Barbara, through San Luis Obispo County to Monterey, handing out layoff notices to hundreds of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust employees at 14 branches, several employees said. Union Bank’s purchase... (Continue reading)

Supervisor’s zipper costly to county taxpayers

By DANIEL BLACKBURN and KAREN VELIE Supervisor Bruce Gibson’s adulterous, long-term affair with a subordinate — his legislative assistant of six years — will cost county taxpayers $68,870 in annual salary plus benefits for a parallel county position she’s been... (Continue reading)

Young San Luis Obispo man falsely charged?

OPINION By JIM GRIFFIN A good-hearted young man, active for economic and social rights for all here in San Luis Obispo, Austin Sarna (nickname Smokie), has been charged by the SLO police and the SLO County District Attorney with attempted... (Continue reading)

Supervisors battle property advocates on ag ordinance

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors is trying to finalize revisions to a contentious “ag cluster” ordinance before Debbie Arnold replaces Jim Patterson in January. [Tribune] Proposed changes to the ordinance make it more difficult for rural landowners... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande votes for new police station

The Arroyo Grande City Council voted 3-2 to on Tuesday to approve the construction of a new police station to be built on a portion of Old Ranch Road and West Branch Street. [NewTimes] Staff recommended the West Branch location... (Continue reading)

NCR supports Diablo Canyon’s earthquake study

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Wednesday supported a recent study by PG&E that found that Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant could withstand an earthquake along the newly discovered Shoreline Fault. [Tribune] During two open houses held in San Luis Obispo,... (Continue reading)