Daily Briefs


Brown’s tax plan falls short

A tax hike that Gov. Jerry Brown plans to put before voters in November will raise less than he hoped, according to the Legislative Analyst, which probably will require much deeper budget cuts than previously anticipated. The plan would raise... (Continue reading)

Atascadero lender’s sentencing delayed

An Atascadero man awaiting sentencing on federal fraud charges was given a few more months of freedom after a judge delayed his sentencing hearing from March 26 to June 25, according to a court order. James Hurst Miller, the former... (Continue reading)

Fight against Dream Act fails

The attempt to block a controversial California law that makes funds available for undocumented immigrant college students has failed to collect enough signatures to make it on the ballot. Opponents of the Dream Act fell 57,000 signatures short of the... (Continue reading)

SLO County Jail inmate dies and another attempts suicide

A 53-year-old San Luis Obispo County Jail inmate was found dead in his single person cell on Thursday at about 2 p.m. Kevin Lee Strahl, 53, a transient, was in custody on failure to register as a sex offender. A... (Continue reading)

Quaid’s bail bond company out $1 million

A Santa Barbara County judge ruled Friday that the bail bond company that posted bail for actor Randy Quaid and his wife Evi Quaid will not be getting its money back. The $1,000,000 in bond money will be forfeited to... (Continue reading)

SLO homeowner captures burglar

A San Luis Obispo homeowner arrived home late last night to find a burglar rummaging though his home and took matters into his own hands. The homeowner detained Mark Anthony Hernandez, 46, while he waited for police to arrive. Officers... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande man robbed seven banks

An Arroyo Grande man pled guilty Thursday in federal court to several bank robberies. As part of his plea agreement, Robert Todd Bruce, 51, agreed to reimburse the seven banks he confessed to holding up while only pleading guilty to three... (Continue reading)

Drug dealing doctor’s son arrested

The stepson of the Santa Barbara physician who was arrested on federal drug trafficking was also arrested Wednesday for drug sales. While searching the Goleta home of Dr. Julio Diaz, 63, police discovered marijuana and an unregistered revolver in 27-year-old... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay woman jailed for beating 86-year-old mother

A Morro Bay woman allegedly entered her sleeping mother’s bedroom and started beating the 86-year-old woman on Monday at about 3 a.m. Neighbors heard the altercation and called police who arrived to find the elderly woman suffering from visible injuries.... (Continue reading)

KCOY lays off 13 people

UPDATE: KCOY laid off meteorologist Jim Byrne and 12 others on Wednesday. KCOY parent company Cowles California Media Company is consolidating in order to cut costs, inside sources said. Many news staffers will be replaced with its Salinas news team which... (Continue reading)