Daily Briefs


Don’t steal in front of cops

A “bad idea” led to the arrest early Saturday of two men allegedly stealing ornaments from the Capitol Christmas tree, said California Highway Patrol officials. [SacramentoBee] A passing CHP officer saw people acting suspiciously around the tree, located on the... (Continue reading)

Countrywide Financial’s $335 million racial discrimination settlement

Countrywide Financial agreed to pay a $335 million settlement for allegedly engaging in a widespread practice of discrimination against qualified Hispanic and African-American  borrowers from 2004 through 2008. The Department of Justice Wednesday filed its largest residential fair lending settlement... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande shop owner arrested in sting operation

Deputies arrested an Arroyo Grande smoke shop owner after he allegedly sold alcohol and drug paraphernalia to a San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s department decoy during a sting operation on Friday. Ghanem Ayass, 52, the owner of Mr. Smokes on Halcyon... (Continue reading)

Jogger fights off attack

A woman jogger attacked Tuesday morning on Vachell Lane near the San Luis Obispo city limits escaped serious injury after she aggressively fought off her assailant. Sheriff’s officials said the woman, who was not identified, was running alone about 7... (Continue reading)

Web-based political party emerging

An online nominating “convention” will seek to select an alternative presidential candidate through a unique campaign being prepared by a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group, Americans Elect, for California’s November ballot. [SacramentoBee] The group’s plan is to bypass the traditional caucus... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande police officer alleges sexual harassment

Contentious claims of a culture of sexual discrimination and harassment have resulted in the first of three proposed lawsuits against the city of Arroyo Grande, its police department and Chief Steve Annibali winding its way through the system. Arroyo Grande police... (Continue reading)

Police search SLO County for body of Salinas woman

Salinas Police have reached out to law enforcement agencies in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties asking them to assist in the search for the body of a woman believed to have been killed by her son. [Californian] Police... (Continue reading)

Tell all online, imperil your credit

Laying bare your innermost thoughts on Facebook can be risky. For example, a change in status on Facebook by Supervisor Adam Hill midway through his recent divorce created for him additional marital complications, political problems, and some embarrassing press coverage.... (Continue reading)

Sewage spill closes Moonstone Beach

Moonstone Beach was closed Sunday after 10,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the ocean because of a a power outage at Cambria’s sewage treatment plant. The sewage was released into Santa Rosa Creek in the vicinity of Windsor Blvd. and... (Continue reading)

42 California nurses made $1 million each in 6 years

State records show that as California struggles to cope with widening budget deficits, some 42 state nurses have each earned over $1 million each over the past six years. [BusinessJournal] Collectively, the group has made $47.5 million effectively tripling their... (Continue reading)