July, 2013

Man who drove off Pismo Beach cliff identified

Pismo Beach police have identified a man who died Tuesday evening after driving off a cliff as 33-year-old Sean Ramirez of Los Osos. Ramirez drove his white truck off a cliff just south of the Best Western Shelter Cove Hotel... (Continue reading)

CalPERS halts release of pension database

Two days after announcing its plan to unveil a public database containing pension information for all retirees in its system, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System chose to delay the creation of the database. [Sacramento Bee] CalPERS said Wednesday that... (Continue reading)

Bankrupt California city to vote on sales tax hike

The city of Stockton, which last year became the largest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy, will vote on whether or not to raise taxes to help ease its financial troubles. [News10] The Stockton City Council voted Tuesday night to... (Continue reading)

Bed bugs invade SLO homeless shelter

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Bed bugs have moved into the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo’s (CAPSLO) Maxine Lewis Memorial Homeless Shelter, causing staff to temporarily shut down the facility. On Monday evening, some homeless people seeking a bed for... (Continue reading)

Driver plunges to death off Pismo Beach cliff

A man died Tuesday evening after driving off a cliff in Pismo Beach. [KCOY] The driver crashed his car around 6 p.m. Tuesday near the Best Western Shelter Cove Lodge in Pismo Beach. He was the only person inside the... (Continue reading)

Spencer’s Fresh Market closing Atascadero store

Spencer’s Fresh Markets announced Tuesday it plans to close its store in Atascadero, citing an expiring lease as the reason. “Our lease with NKT Commercial ends Aug. 31,” John Spencer said. “Spencer’s Fresh Markets is currently looking for another location... (Continue reading)

Tom Murrell accused of benefiting from Gearhart fraud

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Charles Crandall Monday denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against Cuesta Title, Stewart Title and Heritage Oaks Bank noting the defendants were aware of wrongdoings. In 2009, more than... (Continue reading)

CalPERS will reveal pensioners’ pay

In a few more days, California’s gargantuan public retirement system will be an open book — or database — when CalPERS unveils information on individual retirees’ pensions and benefits. (Sacramento Bee) Elements considered public information includes pensioners’ names; their monthly... (Continue reading)

Thief steals Arroyo Grande chief’s badge and gun

A thief stole Arroyo Grand Police Chief Steve Annibali’s badge and gun from his unmarked car Sunday night. [KSBY] Annibali said that the thief smashed the passenger side window of his car around 11:30 p.m. Sunday outside his Arroyo Grande... (Continue reading)

SLO police officer pleads guilty to extortion

San Luis Obispo Police Department narcotics officer Corey Pierce pleaded guilty to extortion Monday in federal court in Los Angeles. [New Times] Pierce 39, pleaded guilty to one of two counts of extortion. In April, he pleaded not guilty to... (Continue reading)