Daily Briefs


Big changes in California primary

California now has an open “top-two” primary, meaning voters do not have to belong to a certain political party in order to cast a ballot for congressional, legislative and statewide races. [KABC] The first- and second-place winners, regardless of party,... (Continue reading)

Capps’ bill promotes self employment

Congresswoman Lois Capps is pushing a new bill with a focus of helping job seekers move into self-employment. [ModestoBee] Capps introduced the bill in late May. It is slated to make training available for would-be entrepreneurs through local Workforce Investment... (Continue reading)

Medical pot OK, state poll shows

Californians continue to lend strong support to the use of medical marijuana by patients with severe or life-threatening disease, but do not now endorse legalization of the plant, a new poll suggests. (Los Angeles Times) Results of a USC Dornside/Los... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles man owes $456,902 in taxes

By DANIEL BLACKBURN A Paso Robles man has earned a place on the state’s annual list of the 500 largest delinquent sales and use tax scofflaws by posting debt of $456,902 accruing from his auto sales business. Jeffrey David Gallagher,... (Continue reading)

Judge sets settlement conference between SLO and homeless

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Charles Crandall set a mandatory settlement conference for the end of June regarding claims the city of San Luis Obispo is unjustly ticketing homeless people who sleep in their cars.... (Continue reading)

Attorney sues Santa Barbara News-Press

The Santa Barbara law firm of Capello & Noel is suing Santa Barbara News-Press owner Wendy McCaw’s Ampersand Publishing, the newspaper’s parent company and related trusts, claiming they owe more than $500,000 in attorney fees, expenses and interest. (Noozhawk) The... (Continue reading)

Blakeslee bill would ban gifts

A local lawmaker’s bill to prohibit lobbyists and the firms that hire them from gifting elected state officials has made it to the floor of the California Senate. Sen. Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo) coaxed his S.B 1426 out of... (Continue reading)

Abel Maldonado’s mounting tax troubles

Central Coast  Republican congressional candidate Abel Maldonado and his family business are embroiled in a legal battle with the IRS over more than $4 million in taxes the IRS says they owe partially because of allegedly claiming personal purchases as... (Continue reading)

Diablo Canyon under fire for lack of current risk assessment

Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in Avila beach  hasn’t done a comprehensive risk assessment of their plants’ vulnerabilities to earthquakes for nearly two decades, according to a Government Accountability Office report released yesterday. [CaliforniaWatch] The GAO said PG&E hasn’t updated its... (Continue reading)

Public forum set for PR chief quest

Paso Robles city officials will try to glean from residents their thoughts about the city’s next chief of police in a Saturday forum starting at 10 a.m. at City Hall, 1000 Spring Street. A replacement is sought for Lisa Solomon-Chitty,... (Continue reading)