Daily Briefs


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)

Police killed by gunfire makes 2011 worst year in a decade

Nick Armstrong, 28, became the 49th law enforcement officer killed by gunfire in the U.S. this year, putting 2011 on track for one of the worst years for lawmen killed in gun-related deaths in a decade. [Witness LA] Armstrong was... (Continue reading)

‘Sesame Street’: Bert and Ernie aren’t gay

In case you were wondering, Bert and Ernie are not gay, according to a statement “Sesame Street” released Thursday on its Facebook page. [Yahoo News.com] The statement came in response to an online campaign to calling for the pair to... (Continue reading)

Lawyers argue teen gunman is victim, not racist

Defense lawyers for a Ventura County teen accused of shooting a gay classmate to death attempted to undermine the prosecution’s argument that the killing was a hate crime motivated by white supremacist sympathies. [The Californian] Brandon McInerney, now 17, is... (Continue reading)

NLRB orders Santa Barbara News-Press to rehire reporters

The National Labor Relations Board ordered Wendy McCaw’s Santa Barbara New-Press to rehire eight reporters who were illegally fired for union activities. [Santa Barbara Independent] The NLRB, in its 55-page decision released Thursday, gave the publication 14 days to comply... (Continue reading)

Third person drowns at Lake Nacimiento

A third person has drowned in Lake Nacimiento in 40 days. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Lucien Mackie Langenbeck was found in 8-feet of water in the Heritage Ranch area of the lake around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. The 42-year-old... (Continue reading)

Peter Douglas steps down from Coastal Commission

After 26 years as executive director of the California Coastal Commission, Peter Douglas, an outspoken opponent of coastal development who helped write the state’s landmark Coastal Act, announced his retirement Wednesday. [Los Angeles Times] Douglas, 68, has been fighting lung... (Continue reading)

Sen. Harry Reid: Save California’s high-speed rail project

As concern grows over costs for a high-speed rail system in California, and amid talk of scrapping the project, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday that abandoning the multi-million dollar venture would be “short sighted.” [San Francisco Chronicle] Speaking... (Continue reading)