Daily Briefs


Budget woes jeopardize plans for California’s bullet train

Plans to build a high-speed rail system in California that would transport passengers from San Diego to San Francisco on a bullet train traveling 220 mph have been beset by a series of roadblocks that are now exacerbated by budget... (Continue reading)

Democrats battle for ballot initiative reform

One hundred years after California adopted the ballot initiative process, legislation to reform it is steadily making its way through the state Legislature. Reform proponents hope they have a new opportunity to change the process with Gov. Jerry Brown, after... (Continue reading)

Two teens struck by truck in Grover Beach

Two local teenage girls are in the hospital with major injuries after being hit by a truck in Grover Beach. [KCOY] The  17 and18-year-old girls were walking in a crosswalk  at the intersection of Grand Avenue and 7th Street at... (Continue reading)

George Ramos remembered as tough reporter, tough teacher

CalCoastNews editor George Ramos, who was found dead at his Morro Bay home over the weekend, is being remembered by a former Los Angeles Times colleague as “a tough guy reporter with a big heart.” [LA Observed] Frank Sotomayor, a... (Continue reading)

Central Coast man infected with West Nile virus

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed Friday that the first West Nile virus of the year in Santa Barbara County. The infected man is now recovering at home after being released from a Santa Barbara County hospital, according... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande hospital head resigns

The president and chief executive officer of Arroyo Grande Community Hospital has resigned. Rick Castro, who served both roles at the Arroyo Grande medical center, gave the hospital his notice in June, to be effective July 31. No replacement has been announced.... (Continue reading)

SLO County to review sanitation district books

The San Luis Obispo County auditor-controller will evaluate two new employment contracts for engineering and administrative services at the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District as part of a review of the district’s financial records. [TimesPressRecorder] The review was... (Continue reading)

California prison hunger strike: Authorities say it’s over but some inmates still refuse to eat

Inmates in 13 prisons throughout California Wednesday appear to have ended a three-week hunger strike, according to prison authorities, that began as a protest against conditions at the high-security, “super max,” Pelican Bay State Prison in Del Norte County. [SF... (Continue reading)

California traffic fatalities lowest since 1944

The number of California’ traffic fatalities in 2010 was the state’s lowest since 1944, when one-tenth the number of vehicles drove one-sixteenth the number of miles, said Chris Cochran, spokesman for the California Office of Traffic Safety. [Mercury News.com] California... (Continue reading)

Oceano medical marijuana co-op proposed

The fight over medical marijuana is headed back to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors within the next few months.[Tribune] The owner of a medical marijuana collective in Goshen applied in May to open a similar shop in... (Continue reading)