Daily Briefs


Assembly to consider $2 billion computer system for state courts

A state Assembly budget committee is scheduled to begin hearings this week on a proposed new statewide computer system for the courts whose price tag has already mushroomed up to $2 billion. [Sacramento Bee] The so-called Court Case Management System... (Continue reading)

Is California Pizza Kitchen for sale?

California Pizza Kitchen, the popular designer pizza chain, currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, is apparently up for sale. [Los Angeles Times] Unidentified sources told the Wall Street Journal that the two original co-founders–Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield, both former criminal... (Continue reading)

Marijuana legalization predicted to fail in November

California voters get to decide in November whether or not to legalize marijuana, but political pundits are already warning that the measure could go up in smoke. [San Bernardino Sun] Early polls show support for the proposed legalization, but experts... (Continue reading)

Cell phone ban may be extended to bicyclists

California’s tough cell phone regulations currently applied to drivers may be extended to bicyclists across the state. [KTVU] Legislation being introduced in Sacramento would ban bicyclists from talking on a cell phone without a headset, or texting while riding. A... (Continue reading)

State AG asked to investigate Palin speaking fee

California Attorney General Jerry Brown is being asked to investigate the circumstances surrounding an upcoming speech by Sarah Palin at CSU Stanislaus. [California Watch] Palin, the former GOP vice-presidential candidate, is scheduled to speak in Turlock on June 25, the... (Continue reading)

County officials play hard-to-get with Los Osos document

Los Osos residents are trying to figure out why San Luis Obispo County officials are making it so difficult to access a critical public document. [Tribune] The 1,000 page document, relating to the Los Osos sewer project, only became available... (Continue reading)

Tougher smoking ban passed for San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, the first city in the nation to crack down on smoking in public, adopted even more stringent regulations Tuesday night. [KSBY] The city council voted four to one to make it even more difficult to smoke in... (Continue reading)

Cost of traffic tickets skyrocket statewide

It doesn’t take an Einstein to figure out the obvious: California is strapped for cash, so anything that can generate needed revenue is being considered. Remember that the next time you get pulled over. It’s likely to cost you a... (Continue reading)

Apple sells 300,000 iPads on first day

More than 300,000 iPads were sold last Saturday, the first day they were available for sale. [Los Angeles Times] Users also downloaded more than 1 million apps for the device and 250,000 e-books. The second series of 3G-ready iPads debuts... (Continue reading)

SLO is quick to kill wild pigs

Residents and tourists alike are enjoying Johnson Ranch, the one-year-old open space park tucked away at the intersection of S. Higuera and Ontario Road in San Luis Obispo. However, city officials are stymied by what to do about the wild... (Continue reading)