Daily Briefs


Brown signs, unions smile

  Labor unions look to be the big winner in the aftermath of Gov. Jerry Brown’s signing Friday of a Democratic bill limiting next year’s initiatives and referendums to the November 2012 ballot. Democrats’ voter turnout is expected to be higher than... (Continue reading)

Feds fire up anti-pot campaign

A looming federal crackdown on legal pot dispensaries in California is emerging in the wake of shifting sentiments in the Obama Administration regarding the use and sale of medical marijuana. This latest move by the U.S. government appears to be... (Continue reading)

“Occupy Wall Street” continues in SLO

The increasingly popular “Occupy Wall Street” movement hit San Luis Obispo on Wednesday as about 50 protesters gathered near the intersections of Santa Rosa and Monterey streets to protest against income inequality and corporate greed. Many of the protesters plan to... (Continue reading)

Eight Occupy Santa Barbara protesters arrested

Santa Barbara Police officers arrested eight people on misdemeanor charges after they refused officers’ orders to leave De la Guerra Plaza on Tuesday evening. [Noozhawk] The Occupy Wall Street movement began on September 17. People are protesting corporate greed and inequality.... (Continue reading)

Cuesta College narrows presidential search to three

Three men, including one who lacks a Ph.D. or Ed.D., have been named as the finalists for the Cuesta College superintendent/president position. The three candidates will be featured in a public forum on Tuesday, Oct. 11 from noon to 3... (Continue reading)

Oceano man sentenced in tourist murder

The Oceano man who intentionally drove his car off Highway 101 in Pismo Beach killing two tourists has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. Jerardo Iriarte, 19, was originally charged with two counts of murder for the... (Continue reading)

Elderly woman killed in collision near Lake Nacimiento

UPDATE: The California Highway Patrol identified the woman killed in the Monday morning crash on Nacimiento Lake Drive as 63-year-old Cynthia Huntsberger of Paso Robles. Alicia Kropp, 40, also of Paso Robles, was not injured in the collision. An elderly... (Continue reading)

Brown kills Blakeslee parks bill

A proposal by Sen. Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo) to allow cities or counties to operate state parks threatened with closure was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown Tuesday. Brown then inked into law a Democratic plan allowing nonprofit organizations to... (Continue reading)

First Solar agrees to cease operations after 35 years

Under an agreement with a group of litigants battling against a Carrizo Plain proposed solar plant, Topaz Solar farm will close down after 35 years of operation, First Solar and two local activist groups announced. [Tribune] The 550-megawatt proposed First... (Continue reading)

“Occupy San Luis Obispo” planned for Wednesday

A national protest movement comes to San Luis Obispo Wednesday afternoon, rain or shine. Organizers are asking people to gather at 5 p.m. outside of the county courthouse on Monterey Street as part of “Occupy San Luis Obispo.” The planned... (Continue reading)