Daily Briefs


Atascadero appoints new police chief

The city of Atascadero announced the appointment of a new chief of police on Monday. Jerel Haley, currently a lieutenant with the Santa Maria police department, is slated to start his new post in mid-November. Former Atascadero Police Chief James... (Continue reading)

Public retirees twice as rich?

Retirement benefits for state and local public workers are significantly higher than the package awaiting those in the private sector, a study tracing a 20-year trend suggests. In an article for CalWatchdog, an independent investigative reporting group, Chriss Street said... (Continue reading)

California funding of public education hits all-time low

Government support of public education in the Golden State has dropped to a historic low, compared to the rest of the country, according to a new report by the California Budget Project. [California Watch] California ranks 46th in the U.S.... (Continue reading)

‘Boomerang’ youth returning home

Parents: Don’t see enough of your adult children? Be patient; a national trend suggests they soon may be asking to move back home. [SanFranciscoChronicle] During a three-year period ending in 2010, the numbers of American adult children living with their... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles woman facing up to 35 years in prison

A Paso Robles woman found guilty in July of defrauding the United States Department of Education and the California Department of Education out of a $35 million grant will be sentenced Monday at the U.S. District Court in Riverside. Jean... (Continue reading)

California Medical Association wants marijuana legalized

California’s largest doctor’ group is calling for the legalization of marijuana despite its belief that there may be only questionable medical value. [LA Times] Trustees of the California Medical Association., which represents more than 35,000 physicians statewide, adopted the position... (Continue reading)

Shell Beach sewage spill prompts warning

The San Luis Obispo County Health Department is warning people to stay away from the ocean and beach in the area of Indio Street in Shell Beach because of a recent sewage spill. At about 8:20 p.m. on Friday, approximately... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo sorority suspended for hazing

Cal Poly administrators have suspended all Alpha Phi chapter activities because of a hazing incident. The sorority has 10 days to appeal the decision that stems from a hearing on Thursday. The sorority pledge who ended up with alcohol poisoning... (Continue reading)

Coast Unified lunch policy rationalized

A lawyer for Coast Unified School District’s board of trustees repeated his interpretation Thursday of how the children of district superintendent Chris Adams came to be included on the free lunch list. Adams and his wife, Julie, an education consultant, report... (Continue reading)

Silly String altercation leads to injuries

A Los Osos man, angered over a previous road rage incident, crashed into an uninvolved motorist who was knocked unconscious at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Chorro Street on Thursday at about 9 p.m. Several pranksters playing with Silly... (Continue reading)