Daily Briefs


PG&E Smart Meters inaccurately blamed for Santa Rosa fire

CORRECTION: Reports that Smart Meters caused a fire in Santa Rosa are incorrect. A short in the Santa Rosa Mall’s electrical system took the path of least resistance and blew out several standard and Smart Meters, said Santa Rosa Fire... (Continue reading)

Cars burglarized in San Luis Obispo

Police say numerous San Luis Obispo residents may have awoken this morning to find their car had been burglarized overnight. San Luis Obispo Police arrested 20-year-old Jeremiah Alvarez and a 15-year-old boy who they believe are responsible for the string of... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay commissioner under fire

John Diodati, who chaired the Morro Bay City Planning Commission when it unanimously voted against the city's proposed wastewater treatment plant project in December, is being targeted for removal from the Commission by Carla Borchard, a member of the Morro... (Continue reading)

Study: Nine million Americans are gay or lesbian

A new national study indicates that 9 million Americans identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. [Los Angeles Times] The research, released Thursday by the Williams Institute at UCLA’s School of Law, claims that 3.5 percent of the national... (Continue reading)

Tenet launches legal war against rival suitor

Tenet Healthcare filed a complaint today against rival hospital operator Community Health Systems (CHS) accusing the company of systematically bilking Medicare hundreds of millions of dollars—a move that caused both companies’ stocks to plummet. [SanFranciscoChronicle] Tenet alleges the Nashville based... (Continue reading)

Weather forecast for Monday April 11

By JOHN LINDSEY from PG&E Earth Day event: Join PG&E employees this Saturday morning, April 16 to celebrate Earth Day at Montaña de Oro State Park. Check-in time: 8:30 a.m. Project time: 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m. Location: Spooner Ranch House, Montana de Oro... (Continue reading)

Getting ready to party on “Yuri’s Night”

Tuesday night is going to be a great party night—if you’re a nerd. About 300 parties are expected to happen from Los Angeles to Moscow, all marking the 50th anniversary of the first human to ever fly in space. [LA... (Continue reading)

Four people survive Camarillo plane crash

Four people escaped from a small plane that crashed into a Camarillo storage depot shortly before the single-engine plane burst into flames on Saturday. [VenturaCountyStar] The Beechcraft Bonanza was in route from Chino to the Camarillo when the engine stalled... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo gets more “happy” press

San Luis Obispo gets another plug as the nation’s happiest city--this time from one of the country’s leading newspapers, USA Today. The Central Coast city was featured in the life and travel section of Friday’s USA Today newspaper and can also... (Continue reading)

Alarming increase in attacks on ASH workers

Violent attacks against employees and patients at Atascadero State Hospital (ASH) has risen 36 percent since 2006 despite a new federal treatment plan that was intended to curb the assaults, according to state and federal documents. NPR Records show violence... (Continue reading)