Daily Briefs


Higher water fees set for Paso Robles

Paso Robles’ steadily rising water rates are set to spurt again. Under a “user pay” formula, the new increases, scheduled to begin Jan. 1, will apply only to higher uses of water, according to a statement issued by the city’s... (Continue reading)

4.2 earthquake strikes the Central Coast

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake occurred Sunday five miles northwest of Pinnacles and 13 miles northeast of Soledad on California’s Central Coast. [LATimes] The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the temblor occurred at 9:25 p.m. on the San Andreas Fault in... (Continue reading)

Salinas boy kills dog by hanging

A 12-year-old Salinas boy allegedly hung and killed his terrier-mix dog on Friday. [TheCalifornian] Police said he told them he was angry at the 12-pound dog and wanted to see it die. Shortly after 4 p.m., a 911 caller hung... (Continue reading)

Investigative journalist arrested in Greece

The Greek police arrested and then quickly released the owner of a respected investigative magazine on Sunday morning hours after he published a list of more than 2,000 suspected tax cheats who were said to have accounts at a bank... (Continue reading)

Officer and suspect shot in Paso Robles

Article and photos by DANIEL BLACKBURN A high-speed, early-morning car chase in Paso Robles ended Saturday in a fusillade of bullets, leaving a California Highway Patrol officer and a suspected parolee hospitalized with gunshot wounds. At about 5:50 a.m., a... (Continue reading)

City attorney fines Ashbaugh for campaign misconduct

San Luis Obpispo City Attorney Christine Dietrick fined Councilman John Ashbaugh $252 Friday for accepting an illegal campaign contribution from County Supervisor Adam Hill. Ashbaugh admitted to receiving two bottles of wine from Hill in addition to a $200 check,... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles woman strikes driver in road-rage incident

California Highway Patrol officers arrested a Paso Robles woman and her 19-year-old son following a road rage incident that became violent. [Tribune] Irene Martinez, 39, was headed south on Highway 101 when she cut off Randall Griffin as both drivers... (Continue reading)

SLO sewage spill closes Avila Beach

Port San Luis and Avila Beach were closed Friday after 1,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into local waterways because of a blocked sewer lateral near 1585 Calle Joaquin Road in San Luis Obispo. The sewage leaked into the ocean... (Continue reading)

Ashbaugh continues questionable use of city email

Following the filing of a campaign misconduct complaint against incumbent San Luis Obispo City Councilman John Ashbaugh, the candidate for reelection once again made personal use of his public email account. The city attorney’s office announced Tuesday that it is... (Continue reading)

Anti-death penalty support mounting

Voter support for a ballot measure to repeal California’s death penalty has increased dramatically now just 3 percentage points behind those in favor of capital punishment, a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll has found. [LATimes] The survey, conducted last... (Continue reading)