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2015

Open letter to the SLO Symphony director

Written on 19 May, 2015 in Featured, Opinion | 22 comments

OPINION By DIANE BLAKESLEE BROCATO Mr. Feingold, Although you’ve now had the job of executive director of the San Luis Obispo Symphony for approximately a year, to my recollection you and I have never met. My late husband, Dr. Earle... (Continue reading)

Grover Beach commander to be next police chief

Written on 19 May, 2015 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 11 comments

The Grover Beach City Council selected Police Commander John Peters as the city’s next chief. [KEYT] Peters is a 10-year veteran of the Grover Beach force. He will take over as chief on June 1 with a base salary of... (Continue reading)

SLO Symphony conductor fired, violists threaten exodus

Written on 19 May, 2015 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 24 comments

The San Luis Obispo Symphony board of directors has fired its longtime music conductor and director, Michael Nowak, prompting the entire violist section to threaten leaving the orchestra. Last week, the board announced in a press release that Nowak was... (Continue reading)

Is Diablo desal SLO County’s next water source?

Written on 19 May, 2015 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 16 comments

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors is slated to approve an agreement Tuesday that, in emergency situations, will allow the county’s branch of Cal Fire to purchase desalinated water from Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Pacific Gas & Electric... (Continue reading)

SLO County’s disappearing budget surplus

Written on 18 May, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 55 comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Less than six months after the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors awarded extra pay to all employees after staff claimed a $30 million budget surplus, the county is running in a deficit. The county is... (Continue reading)

Shelly Higginbotham running for District 3 supervisor

Written on 18 May, 2015 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 31 comments

Pismo Beach Mayor Shelly Higginbotham announced Monday her candidacy for the San Luis Obispo County supervisor seat currently held by Adam Hill. Higginbotham joins San Luis Obispo Councilman Dan Carpenter, former Grover Beach Mayor Debbie Peterson and Hill in a... (Continue reading)

Democrats losing membership in SLO County

Written on 18 May, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 82 comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN and KAREN VELIE As the Republican Party loses ground in California and risks losing statewide competitiveness, it is the Democratic Party that is suffering the greater erosion in San Luis Obispo County. Since 2009, the Democratic Party... (Continue reading)

Obama ordering restrictions on police militarization

Written on 18 May, 2015 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 45 comments

U.S. President Barack Obama plans to issue an order Monday banning federal authorities from providing certain types of military-style equipment to local police departments. [New York Times] Obama is expected to prohibit police departments from using federal funds to acquire... (Continue reading)

More than 300 California dentists suspected of Medicaid abuse

Written on 18 May, 2015 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 10 comments

A federal audit of dental bills covered by Medicaid found that 329 dentists in California engaged in questionable billing practices. [Contra Costa Times] The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services audit also identified six orthodontists in California with questionable... (Continue reading)

Hiker airlifted from Bishop Peak in SLO

Written on 18 May, 2015 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments

A California Highway Patrol helicopter airlifted a 28-year-old man from Bishop Peak Sunday evening after the hiker reportedly broke his femur. [Tribune] Around 5:42 p.m., several agencies responded to Bishop Peak to assist the injured hiker who was halfway up... (Continue reading)