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PG&E biggest spender on lobbying in California

Written on 26 Apr, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 24 comments

California companies spent more than $66 million lobbying state officials and Congress during the first quarter of 2010–and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is at the top of the list. [California Watch] The report, maintained by the U.S. Senate, shows... (Continue reading)

Texting driver blamed for San Luis Obispo power outage

Written on 26 Apr, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 4 comments

A male driver who allegedly took his eyes off the road while texting on his cell phone crashed his car and caused a power outage in the neighborhoods surrounding Cal Poly Sunday afternoon. [Tribune] The driver’s Toyota Camry crashed into... (Continue reading)

Sales tax income for San Luis Obispo drops again

Written on 25 Apr, 2010 in Daily Briefs | No comments

San Luis Obispo officials are bracing for the possibility of more spending cuts following reports that the city’s sales tax revenue continued to decline in late 2009. [Tribune] Sales tax revenue, the main source of income for the city’s general... (Continue reading)

Grover Beach police officer shoots robbery suspect

Written on 23 Apr, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 4 comments

A man who had robbed a gas station was shot and wounded by a Grover Beach police officer Friday morning after he tried to drive over an officer, authorities said. David Jordon Griffin, 24, was shot inside a trailer park... (Continue reading)

Attorney General mounts major gang crackdown in Salinas

Written on 23 Apr, 2010 in Daily Briefs | One comment

Law enforcement officials arrested 37 members of two separate street gangs, responsible for more than three dozen murders and 200 shootings in Salinas and surrounding areas. [Attorney General’s Office] The mass arrest on Thursday, coordinated through the office of state... (Continue reading)

Louisiana offshore oil explosion sparks concern in Santa Barbara

Written on 23 Apr, 2010 in Daily Briefs | One comment

Political observers are debating the impact of the tragic explosion involving the BP oil rig off the coast of Louisiana, and how it might affect the current debate over offshore drilling in Santa Barbara. [Calbuzz] The ever-growing spill in the... (Continue reading)

California faces $325 billion in unfunded pension obligations

Written on 23 Apr, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 10 comments

A top pension consultant warned Thursday that state and local governments currently face $325 billion in unfunded pension liabilities, amounting to $22,000 for every working adult in California. [Los Angeles Times] Consultant Girard Miller issued the warning before California’s Little... (Continue reading)

Maldonado wins key support to be lieutenant governor

Written on 22 Apr, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 2 comments

Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) appears to be on his way to becoming the next lieutenant governor of California [Los Angeles Times] The moderate Republican cleared a major hurdle Thursday morning when the state Assembly confirmed his nomination by a vote... (Continue reading)

California voters support soda tax to fight obesity

Written on 22 Apr, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 6 comments

A majority of California voters say they would support a small tax on sweetened soft drinks in order to fight obesity. [HealthyCal.org] The Field Poll survey found that 56 percent would support a soft drink tax and 43 percent would... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo County public defender’s office runs out of money

Written on 22 Apr, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 5 comments

The San Luis Obispo County public defender’s budget is about $500,000 in the red and the Board of Supervisors is being asked to intervene. (Tribune] According to a staff report, there is only $50 left in the public defender’s $5... (Continue reading)