Daily Briefs


Gas prices slated to drop 40 cents a gallon

Gas prices are expected to drop between 40 to 45 cents a gallon by the end of October, according to analysts. During the past decade, prices have dropped during this period an average of 23 cents a gallon. [MercuryNews] However,... (Continue reading)

Drunk driver hits two cars, flees the scene

San Luis Obispo Police arrested a 21-year-old man for felony driving under the influence and hit and run shortly before midnight on Friday. Responding to reports of a collision on the 100 block of North Tassajara Drive, police discovered a... (Continue reading)

Water restrictions increase for Cambria residents

The Cambria Community Services District Board of Directors voted unanimously on Friday to continue a moratorium against new home construction and to also restrict people from irrigating their yards and landscapes with tap water. Dozens of speakers voiced their concerns... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay still considering firing city manager and attorney

Morro Bay Mayor Jamie Irons is resuming his effort to terminate the contracts of City Manager Andrea Lueker and City Attorney Rob Schultz. At next Tuesday’s city council meeting, Irons will request that the council obtain outside legal counsel to... (Continue reading)

Gun group sets sights on ‘restrictive’ bills

California’s most expansive gun-owners’ website, Calguns.net, has launched a campaign to encourage Gov. Jerry Brown’s veto of a bundle of legislation viewed as “the most restrictive collection of anti-gun laws in decades.” Setting cross-hairs on 11 specific bills, Calguns.net sponsors... (Continue reading)

California unemployment checks delayed

Thousands of Californians did not receive their unemployment checks this week while the state struggles to upgrade its 30-year-old payroll system. On Tuesday, the Employment Development Department announced that about 50,000 unemployed Californians did not receive their unemployment checks. A... (Continue reading)

Hard money lender sentenced to five years

Heritage Lending’s former president Candy Wells was sentenced on Thursday to five years in prison for fraudulent practices in the offer and sale of securities. Wells plead no contest in August to five counts of securities fraud. After listening to... (Continue reading)

Court upholds California’s low carbon fuel standards

A federal appellate court ruled Wednesday that California regulators can impose low carbon fuel standards on wholesalers and refineries in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [LA Times] AB 32, California’s Global Warming Solutions Act, requires producers, refiners and importers... (Continue reading)

Jail inmate arrested for Oceano murder

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s detectives arrested an Oceano man Wednesday for the June murder of a Nipomo resident. Joseph Adrian Munoz, 36, had been in San Luis Obispo County Jail since June 23 for a probation violation. Since his... (Continue reading)

Shooting of Santa Maria suspect deemed justified

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office ruled an officer involved shooting last year in Santa Maria was justified. [KCOY] On Aug. 12, 2013, Santa Maria police shot and killed a man who led them on a high-speed chase through... (Continue reading)