Daily Briefs


Opponents and proponents of gay marriage argue in federal court

As a gaggle of noisy protesters shouted through bullhorns and brandished signs outside, lawyers for the backers and opponents of the initiative to ban gay marriage made their case inside a federal appeals courthouse Monday. [CaliforniaWatch] The 2 1/2-hour hearing... (Continue reading)

Violent weekend in Santa Maria leaves one dead

Two shootings and one stabbing have left one dead and three injured in Santa Maria over the weekend. A man suffered gun shot injuries Friday night in a drive-by shooting near the corner of Stowell Road and Western Avenue just... (Continue reading)

State lawmakers want to keep their cars (the ones you pay for)

California remains the only state in the nation to provide vehicles to its rank-and-file lawmakers for unlimited use and it’s a policy not likely to change in the near future. [AP] The state purchases cars for lawmakers like Sam Blakeslee... (Continue reading)

Mercury might cause homosexual behavior in birds

Mercury poison is being blamed for causing some male birds to display homosexual behavior. [NatureNews] American white ibises exposed to mercury are more likely to engage in same-sex pairings than unexposed American white ibises. Peter Frederick, an ecologist at the... (Continue reading)

Gun involved in Highway 58 murder-suicide

The two bodies found in a vehicle off Highway 58 south of Creston died in a murder-suicide on Wednesday morning. The victims, Stephanie Rodriguez, 19, of Templeton and Hugo Castillo, 22, of Atascadero, were found in a car that went... (Continue reading)

Two dead in accident in Santa Margarita

Two bodies were found in a car that crashed down an embankment on Highway 58 south of Creston early Wednesday morning. It appears the vehicle, which was occupied by a male and a female, went off the road, down an... (Continue reading)

Santa Barbara County’s new underage drinking law

In an attempt to cut down on underage drinking, Santa Barbara County will begin enforcement of a new ordinance that allows officers entry into residencies if they suspect minors are drinking on the premises as of December 1, 2010. [DailyNexus]... (Continue reading)

Electrical fire damages Bon Temps Creole Cafe in San Luis Obispo

An electrical fire filled the Bon Temps Creole Cafe in San Luis Obispo with smoke early Tuesday morning causing extensive damage. Fire Marshal Rodger Maggio said the fire appears to have started in the cashiers station were a group of... (Continue reading)

Amtrak to allow passengers to pack guns

Amtrak will allow passengers to bring guns on most trains starting next month.  [Sacramento Bee] The change, pushed by gun rights advocates and ordered by Congress, aligns Amtrak’s firearms policy with air travel rules that allow unloaded guns to be... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly announces candidates for president

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo announced its three finalists for the position of president, earlier today. Each candidate will spend a few days on the campus meeting faculty, students and administrators. On Monday and Tuesday, Dr. Robert E.... (Continue reading)