Daily Briefs


Appeals lodged against Carrizo Plain solar plant

Four appeals have been lodged against the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission’s approval of SunPower’s proposal to construct a 250-megawatt solar plant on the Carrizo Plain. [Tribune] Opponents of the project want the Carrizo Plain protected as a habitat... (Continue reading)

Mountain Lion at the Oceano Dunes?

Local photographer Amy Joseph was capturing images of the Oceano Dunes on Saturday afternoon when she took a few photos of what she thought was a stray horse. To her surprise, zoom images appear to show a mountain lion running... (Continue reading)

CalPERS seeking $200 million increase in funding

CalPERS staff has recommended a small change in investment projections that is likely to cost California $200 million or more.  [MercuryNews] The California Public Employees’ Retirement System Board had estimated that the pension fund’s investments would make 7.75 percent interest... (Continue reading)

Adam Hill quietly begins re-election bid

Adam Hill, 3rd District county supervisor, is already mapping out his campaign for re-election in 2012. Supporters have been reaching out to local public officials, inviting them to attend a kick-off rally for Hill, set for early May, when he... (Continue reading)

Tsunami 2011, event photos

In Shell Beach, the water receded dramatically on Friday morning revealing more coastline than seen at the lowest tide. When tsunami waves hit shallower coastal waters, wave height dramatically increases. Along the Central Coast, the topography of the ocean floor... (Continue reading)

Central Coast waiting on the tsunami

Coastal areas all along the West Coast continue to be evacuated Friday morning following a Tsunami Watch/Warning issued by the National Weather Service. Residents in Oceano, Cayucos, Port San Luis, and  Grover Beach, Morro Bay, and Avila Beach were being... (Continue reading)

SmartMeter opponents score major victory

Pacific Gas & Electric took a major hit Thursday when state regulators announced that they expect the utility to offer customers the option of declining wireless SmartMeters. [Associated Press] The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is giving PG&E two weeks... (Continue reading)

Cuesta College renews search for South County site

Cuesta College is searching for a new South County education center site after negotiations with owners of a proposed Grover Beach property were abandoned. Cuesta College officials had offered to pay 75 cents a square foot for the Grover Beach... (Continue reading)

California’s 2011 recovery dismal

Economists are predicting that California’s job market recovery will be more sluggish then original estimates, according to a recent UCLA report. [LATimes] The unemployment rate will remain in double digits until early 2013, the report says. California’s unemployment rate was... (Continue reading)

Tompkins rethinking Arroyo Grande project

A proposal to build a shopping center anchored by a grocery store on Grand Avenue was sent back to the drawing board by request of the developer at Tuesday’s Arroyo Grande Council meeting. “It is a step in the right... (Continue reading)