Daily Briefs


Dumb criminal of the month, tardy officer

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper chased a speeding vehicle Oct. 11 as it weaved through traffic at speeds of 120 miles an hour, reporting to dispatchers that her quarry was a Miami police car. [Miami Herald] When the chase ended... (Continue reading)

Bank sues Rottman Group over Atascadero projects

A Central Coast bank filed a lawsuit earlier this month against the Rottman Group for defaulting on a $6.2 million debt related to the Atascadero Annex project. [PacificCoastBusinessTimes] On Oct. 18, Montecito Bank & Trust filed a lawsuit in Santa... (Continue reading)

Waage urges council to reject dunes study

A Pismo Beach city councilman wants his colleagues to agree on Tuesday to ask the San Luis Obispo County air-quality board to reject a proposed rule to regulate fugitive dust emissions at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Park. The... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo motel tied to British murder case

A British tabloid is reporting that U.S. marshals are investigating a link between San Luis Obispo and a sensational murder trial in England. [Daily Mail] Vincent Tabak, a 33-year-old Dutch architectual engineer, is accused of strangling to death Joanna Yeates,... (Continue reading)

Auditor finds sex offenders living in foster homes

The California State Auditor discovered more than 1,000 sex offenders have the same addresses as licensed foster homes, according to a report released Thursday by the state auditor. In July, the auditor asked Social Services to investigate the address matches.... (Continue reading)

Money’s tight, just like Matosantos

This state’s financial problems are staggering, and apparently so was the finance director. Ana Matosantos, who heads the state’s Finance Department, was arrested early Friday for DUI after Sacramento police noticed her car weaving near the Capitol. Her 2004 Acura... (Continue reading)

Oceano opposes proposed dune regulations

The Oceano Community Services District voted 4-0 to send a letter to county air regulators opposing proposed rules that place fines on the state for not improving air quality at the dunes. [Tribune] Board members voiced concerns over the effect... (Continue reading)

Local nurse is the overtime pay champ of California

A nurse at the California Men’s Colony (CMC) in San Luis Obispo earned $269,810 last year by tripling her regular pay with overtime hours. [Bloomberg] Jean Keller got more overtime in 2010 than any other state employee. In all, California’s... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles gangs, civic concern growing

Residents of Paso Robles and other North County communities are keenly aware of a growing gang presence in their neighborhoods, but many public officials continue to pretend nothing is wrong. [NewTimes] In recent weeks, law enforcement agencies have banded together... (Continue reading)

Governor targets fat public pensions

A higher retirement age and a less benevolent pension system await new state workers in the future if a plan to be unveiled Thursday by Gov. Jerry Brown succeeds. Brown also will be targeting the purchase by current state employees... (Continue reading)