Daily Briefs


SoCal house-flipping roaring back

Signaling a potential statewide housing sector recovery, the practice of flipping houses in Southern California has suddenly reached near-record levels, matching the 2005 high. (Los Angeles Times) Flipping of residential units at the peak of the busing bubble was in... (Continue reading)

Atascadero bookkeeper convicted of embezzlement

An Atascadero bookkeeper who embezzled more than $123,000 from a client’s bank account was sentenced to two years in San Luis Obispo County Jail. [Atascadero News] While working for A. R. Pete Reed Bookkeeping, Teresa Olmscheid wrote checks to herself... (Continue reading)

Black bear spotted in Avila Beach

A black bear was spotted in the community of Avila Beach Saturday morning. [KCOY] The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says the bear sighting was the second of the year in the Avila Beach area. “This is probably the... (Continue reading)

Controversy arises over prisoner’s death

Advocates of a California prison inmate hunger strike announced one of the prisoners who had been refusing meals has died, but state corrections officials said the death is under investigation as a suicide. [Reuters] Supporters and inmates say Billy Sell,... (Continue reading)

West Nile Virus detected in Pismo Beach

Health officials have detected West Nile Virus in mosquitoes collected in Pismo Beach this month. The virus was discovered in mosquitoes collected on July 9 and 10 at Chumash Park, according to the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department.... (Continue reading)

Driver rolls truck into Lopez Lake

A man is recovering from his injuries after he rolled his pick-up truck into Lopez Lake on Friday at about 6 p.m. [KCOY] The driver lost control of his vehicle on Hi Mountain Road, rolled his truck and landed partially... (Continue reading)

Oil drilling threat stirs Santa Maria angst

An 890-acre parcel in Santa Maria is being eyed by an oil company for possible drilling, but an official of Amrich Energy says no plans are on the immediate horizon. (Santa Maria Times) The so-called Area 9 is part of... (Continue reading)

SLO County orders Mid State Fair to turn in its turtles

The California Mid State Fair has been caught in the act — it possessed small turtles with the intent to distribute. The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department received notification this week that the carnival area of the Mid... (Continue reading)

Pepper-spraying former cop wants workers’ comp

A bullying campus cop who pepper-sprayed protesters at a UC Davis demonstration in 2011 has applied for workers’ compensation, claiming he was psychologically warped by widespread angry reaction to the resulting viral video. (San Francisco Chronicle) John Pike was a... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande broker vying for Teixeira’s former seat

Arroyo Grande real estate broker Michael Byrd has announced that he is seeking the gubernatorial appointment to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. [KCOY] Byrd became the first applicant to formally announce his candidacy to fill the seat... (Continue reading)