March, 2014

Proposal calls for 350 new oil wells in Price Canyon

A Phoenix, Arizona based natural resources company is planning to drill 350 new oil wells in an area of Price Canyon near Pismo Beach. [KSBY] Freeport McMoran, which mines precious metals and produces oil and gas, currently pumps 5,000 barrels... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo Paso Robles on the top 10 best city list

San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles were listed as the eighth best city for well-being out of 189 cities or pairs of cities, according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday. The 2013 rankings are based on more than 500,000 interviews... (Continue reading)

California ranks second most expensive state for renters

California is the second least affordable state in the country for renters, only trailing Hawaii, according to a report released Monday. [LA Times] The National Low Income Housing Coalition analyzed rental rates across the U.S. and defined affordability as spending... (Continue reading)

Machete wielding robber surprises resident

Police are searching for a man who broke into an Isla Vista home and attacked a resident with a machete on Monday. At about 4 p.m., the resident returned home and confronted the robber. The robber than attacked the man... (Continue reading)

Two-year-old killed by car in Santa Maria

A woman backed a car into a two-year-old boy in Santa Maria Saturday, killing the child. [KCOY] On Saturday afternoon, the toddler wandered behind the vehicle as the woman was backing out of a residential driveway during a neighborhood barbecue.... (Continue reading)

Phillips 66 rail project – explosive risks far outweigh the benefits

OPINION By MESA REFINERY WATCH GROUP CHAIR PERSON LINDA REYNOLDS In 1955, San Luis Obispo County approved a plan to bring crude oil to its Nipomo Mesa Santa Maria Refinery via pipeline. Over the years, the Nipomo refinery was operated... (Continue reading)

California gubernatorial candidate is registered sex offender

Republican candidate for the California governorship, Glenn Champ, has a criminal record that includes convictions of voluntary manslaughter and assault to commit rape. He is a registered sex offender. [Washington Post] A jury convicted Champ of two counts of assault... (Continue reading)

Moriarty gets a new lawyer

Al Moriarty, the Grover Beach man accused of running a $22 million Ponzi scheme, was appointed a new lawyer after his former lawyer had his law license suspended. Moriarty is accused of placing nearly $10 million of investor funds in... (Continue reading)

Man runs into Santa Maria house, threatens to detonate bomb

A man stormed into a house in Santa Maria Friday night and threatened to blow up a bomb. [KSBY] Marcos Vela, 20, knocked on a door in the 1100 block of N. Lincoln Street in Santa Maria around 7:40 p.m.... (Continue reading)

Bakersfield man trying to drill for oil near Huasna Valley

A Bakersfield man is attempting to get approval from San Luis Obispo County to drill for oil near Huasna Valley, less than two years after oil company Excelaron lost its bid to do so nearby. [Tribune] Dero Parker, owner of... (Continue reading)