Daily Briefs


Salinas will consider ban on polystyrene takeout boxes

The Salinas City Council will consider today whether to ban polystyrene “takeout” boxes, which tend to break up over time and leach out toxic chemicals, and are considered a major source of marine pollution and litter, environmentalists say. [The Salinas... (Continue reading)

Hate crime defendant claims he burned cross to memorialize his father

The defendant in a March 18 Arroyo Grande cross burning who is being charged with a hate crime claims that he was attempting to memorialize the death of his father, not to express racial hatred. [The Tribune] The attorney for... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande brothers tied up during home invasion

Deputies are searching for two men who forced their way into a rural Arroyo Grande home on Sunday evening and tied up two brothers before robbing them. Two men wearing bandanas stormed into the house on the 2300 block of... (Continue reading)

Anonymous hacks into Bay Area Rapid Transit website

The amorphous hacker group known as Anonymous attacked a Bay Area Rapid Transit website Sunday in retaliation for BART’s decision to cut cell phone service to prevent a flash mob protest against San Francisco police. [San Francisco Chronicle] BART scrambled... (Continue reading)

League calls for reduced pensions for current city workers

Officials with the League of California Cities are offering a new pension reform plan for struggling California towns, proposing a “detailed legal review”of whether pensions promised current workers can be reduced. [Calpensions] “Pension sustainability cannot be fully achieved without addressing... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo County Superior Court to cut $1 million from budget

State budget cuts will leave San Luis Obispo Superior Court about $1 million short of its $19 million 2011 operating budget. [The Tribune] Cuts of $350 million, the largest in state’s history, from judicial the branch’s budget for fiscal year... (Continue reading)

Domestic disturbance shooting in Paso Robles

Three male residents of a Paso Robles apartment were involved in a disturbance on Friday that included gunfire. Shortly after 5 p.m., officers responding to multiple 911 calls heard two gun shots coming from an apartment building on the 3500... (Continue reading)

Hells Angels president arrested for firebombing business rivals

Federal investigators arrested the former president of the Ventura County Chapter of the “Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle gang” on Friday for firebombing two competing tattoo shops, according to a press release. George Christie Jr., 64, of Ventura, was one of... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay man arrested for rape

Deputies arrested a Morro Bay man on Thursday for allegedly raping a local woman at a Cambria park last week. Following an interview on Thursday, detectives from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) unit took... (Continue reading)

Tony Cipolla joins KCOY

Former KSBY news anchor Tony Cipolla is heading to Santa Maria for a new TV gig with arch rival KCOY Channel 12. [Tribune] Next week, Cipolla will join Sara Cole as co-anchor of the morning show. Last October, KCOY began... (Continue reading)