Daily Briefs


ASH fined for assaults on employees

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health fined Atascadero State Hospital $27,000 for an ongoing pattern of patient assaults on employees. A Cal/OSHA investigation determined that from January to September patients caused an average of 10 injuries per month... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria woman’s torture trial starts next week

A Santa Maria woman who allegedly punished her then 2-year-old daughter for playing with her makeup by holding the child’s hands in scalding tap water almost three years ago is scheduled to begin trial next week. [SantaMariaTimes] Lorena Arenas, 26,... (Continue reading)

Hash oil lab causes explosion in Morro Bay

Morro Bay police discovered a hash oil lab Wednesday after responding to a gas explosion that burned a man. [Tribune] An explosion around 4:30 p.m. blew out the windows of a Morro Bay duplex on the 800 block of Napa... (Continue reading)

Union Bank to lay off up to 400 Central Coast employees

Union Bank officials are heading up the coast from Santa Barbara, through San Luis Obispo County to Monterey, handing out layoff notices to hundreds of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust employees at 14 branches, several employees said. Union Bank’s purchase... (Continue reading)

Supervisors battle property advocates on ag ordinance

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors is trying to finalize revisions to a contentious “ag cluster” ordinance before Debbie Arnold replaces Jim Patterson in January. [Tribune] Proposed changes to the ordinance make it more difficult for rural landowners... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande votes for new police station

The Arroyo Grande City Council voted 3-2 to on Tuesday to approve the construction of a new police station to be built on a portion of Old Ranch Road and West Branch Street. [NewTimes] Staff recommended the West Branch location... (Continue reading)

NCR supports Diablo Canyon’s earthquake study

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Wednesday supported a recent study by PG&E that found that Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant could withstand an earthquake along the newly discovered Shoreline Fault. [Tribune] During two open houses held in San Luis Obispo,... (Continue reading)

Avila Beach to host 2013 Amgen Tour

The Amgen tour, the largest cycling race in the United States, will include Avila Beach as a host city in 2013. On May 16, the fifth stage of the week-long race will begin in Santa Barbara and finish in Avila... (Continue reading)

Man throws tirade in downtown SLO salon

A San Luis Obispo man entered a downtown salon Tuesday evening and threw products, chairs and display items all around the business. Police first received a call about Samuel Dabill, 33, around 9 p.m. when witnesses reported seeing a man... (Continue reading)

Suspected smugglers beach panga boat near San Simeon

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s deputies discovered a panga boat early Tuesday morning beached north of Piedras Blancas lighthouse outside of San Simeon. Around 4:15 a.m. deputies noticed an open gate to a field off Highway 1 and north of... (Continue reading)