Daily Briefs


PG&E executive caught spying on critics

A senior PG&E executive, responsible for overseeing the utility’s controversial SmartMeter program, has admitted using a false name to try to join an online group opposed to the meters and secretly monitoring other online forums critical of PG&E. [Mercury News] William... (Continue reading)

Adult students to protest at Cal Poly Tuesday

Cal Poly students enrolled in a special, and apparently cost-beneficial, Cal Poly adult education degree program are set to protest Tuesday afternoon. Dozens of students from the school’s Adult Degree Program (ADP) are gathering outside the Administration Building between 4:30... (Continue reading)

Mentally disabled Paso Robles man missing

Los Angeles Police are searching for a Paso Robles man with diminished mental capacity who went missing in Hollywood on Sunday afternoon. [BeverlyHillsCourier] Loren John Nauta, who is 41 but has the mental capacity of a 6-year-old, was last seen... (Continue reading)

Randy Quaid claims conspiracy is out to get him

A Santa Barbara County judge forfeited Randy Quaid’s $500,000 bail while the actor was telling a national TV audience that a conspiracy was out to get him and other celebrities. [Noozhawk] Quaid and his wife Evi remain fugitives on the... (Continue reading)

Jan Marx to become next mayor of San Luis Obispo

Paul Brown has conceded to Jan Marx in the close mayoral race in San Luis Obispo [Tribune] The former city councilman originally posted Friday on Facebook that the absentee ballot counting was not going in his favor. Brown confirmed in... (Continue reading)

AG city council takes up Foods 4 Less debate

The Arroyo Grande City Council meets Tuesday night to decide whether to allow a giant Food 4 Less grocery store to be built on Grand Avenue–across the street from Spencer’s and just down the block from Von’s. The store, being... (Continue reading)

Jerry Brown: Flip-flop No. 1

It didn’t take long. California Gov.-elect Jerry Brown told a Wednesday morning press conference that he will not be moving to Sacramento, contradicting an earlier pledge and creating his first official flip-flop. [Capitol Alert] “I will live in Oakland, but... (Continue reading)

John Summer exits Visitors & Conference Bureau

John Summer, the former local television news anchor, has decided to step down as executive director of the county’s Visitors & Conference Bureau (VCB) after less than a year on the job. [Tribune] Summer’s decision, effective Nov. 1. comes just... (Continue reading)

Katcho, Parkinson have big nights

BY THE CALCOASTNEWS STAFF It took the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s office almost five hours to post all the local election results on-line Tuesday night, but after the dust finally settled, there were some big winners, some big losers,... (Continue reading)

Maldonado appears unAbel to win

Former Central Coast state Senator and current California lieutenant governor Abel Maldonado appears headed for defeat in his bid to keep the second most powerful political position in the state. [San Francisco Chronicle] Maldonado’s opponent, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom... (Continue reading)