Daily Briefs


Grover Beach motel catches fire on Christmas Eve

A fire broke out on Christmas Eve at a Grover Beach motel that doubles as a residential building. [Tribune] Around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Five Cities firefighters responded to a laundry room fire at the Grover Beach Inn on 5th Street... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria man accused of Christmas Eve kidnapping

Police officers arrested a Santa Maria Man in Arroyo Grande for allegedly kidnapping a woman on Christmas Eve. [KSBY] Officers responded to the reported kidnapping around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and searched for the vehicle of 41-year-old Daniel Espinoza. They found... (Continue reading)

New Times publishers win $3.7 million abuse of power lawsuit

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted to pay Phoenix New Times publishers $3.7 million for politically motivated actions taken by county officials against the journalists. [azcentral.com] Last week’s settlements bring to at least $17 million the final taxpayer cost of... (Continue reading)

California judge rules public employees have vested rights to pensions

A California judge ruled Monday that employees of the city of San Jose have vested rights to their pension benefits. [Mercury News] Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Patricia Lucas struck down part of a 2012 pension reform measure that... (Continue reading)

Former police department janitor sentenced for child molestation

An Atascadero man was sentenced on Friday to 15 years to life in prison for repeatedly molesting two sisters. [Tribune] Miguel Angel Zuranich, 45, pleaded guilty to molesting the sisters who are now ages 14 and 22. Zuranich began molesting... (Continue reading)

Investor trying to split California into six states

San Luis Obispo County would join Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties to form the state of West California, if voters support the initiative of a Silicon Valley investor. [LA Times] Venture capitalist Tim Draper held a news conference... (Continue reading)

Panga boat beaches near San Simeon

A panga boat beached north of San Simeon Monday afternoon. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a panga landing around 5 p.m. Monday. Deputies, State Parks rangers and California Highway Patrol officers responded to the... (Continue reading)

Dies plan to file claim against House of Representatives

The parents of the woman fatally injured when a legislative aide for Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara struck her and then drove away are planning to file a claim against the House of Representatives. [Noozhawk] Attorney Robert Stoll, who represents... (Continue reading)

Hay trailer catches fire at Cal Poly

A trailer full of hay caught on fire on the Cal Poly campus Saturday. [Tribune] A pickup truck was hauling alfalfa hay to deliver as cattle feed around 12:30 p.m. Saturday when flames sparked from trailer. The driver stopped in... (Continue reading)

Parents of UC Santa Barbara students want meningitis vaccine

After four University of California, Santa Barbara students contracted meningitis B, parents are questioning why their children are not able to get the vaccine which was made available to students at Princeton. [ABCNews] Even though the U.S. Centers for Disease... (Continue reading)