Home  »  Archives

Daily Briefs


State ignoring federal school mandate

Written on 15 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 22 comments

California school officials have largely disregarded the Obama Administration’s direction for education, marking a rare state departure from adherence to federal policy. (Los Angeles Times) At issue is the practice of grading performances of teachers, and rewarding or punishing individuals... (Continue reading)

Yosemite rental ban reconsidered

Written on 15 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 7 comments

Plans to curtail commercial recreational vendors in Yosemite National Park, proposed as a possible solution to federal environmental mandates, are being reconsidered by parks officials after a huge public outcry. (San Jose Mercury News) Parks Director Jon Jarvis said his... (Continue reading)

Panga boat beaches near Piedras Blancas Lighthouse

Written on 15 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 19 comments

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s deputies and State Park rangers discovered an abandoned panga boat Sunday morning near the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse outside of San Simeon. The deputies and rangers discovered the abandoned boat in a remote cove north of... (Continue reading)

Motorcyclist dies in crash on Highway 227

Written on 14 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

A motorcyclist died Saturday after colliding with a car on Highway 227 near Cold Canyon Landfill. [KSBY] The crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The collision threw the motorcyclist off his bike, which then caught on fire, according to the... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande Council recognizes officer harassment injuries

Written on 13 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 9 comments

The Arroyo Grande City Council agreed on July 9 to recognize that police officer Michelle Cota suffered psychological injuries while on the job. [NewTimes] As a result of the council vote, Cota will be able to retire and collect bi-weekly... (Continue reading)

Homeland Security secretary named University of California president

Written on 13 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 18 comments

Janet Napolitano, the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security and former governor of Arizona, has been selected as the next president of the University of California system. [LATimes] Napolitano’s appointment is the first time in its 145-year history the 10-campus system... (Continue reading)

Murdered Santa Maria man owed drug taxes

Written on 12 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 7 comments

Santa Barbara County Grand Jury transcripts suggest that a Santa Maria gang brutally murdered and tortured 28-year-old Anthony Ibarra over a drug tax debt. [KEYT] Gang members tortured and killed Ibarra on March 17 at a residence on West Donovan... (Continue reading)

Gov. Brown signs business incentive bill

Written on 12 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 6 comments

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation on Thursday revamping an economic program in an effort to encourage manufacturing and job growth in California. [MercuryNews] Brown initially objected to continuing the business incentives calling the program outdated and inefficient but later compromise... (Continue reading)

Solar homes in state multiplying

Written on 12 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 15 comments

Home solar systems were installed by California homeowners at a record rate last year, with the equipment generating a total of 391 megawatts of electricity, according to data released by the government. (San Francisco Chronicle) A rebate program for solar... (Continue reading)

Men’s Colony inmates join statewide hunger strike

Written on 12 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 10 comments

Inmates at the California Men’s Colony have joined a statewide hunger strike over the treatment of prisoners, just as state officials are trying to convince the U.S. Supreme Court that prison conditions have improved. The California Department of Corrections and... (Continue reading)