Daily Briefs


Pot farm destroyed, three arrested

Three people are in jail tonight and 5,487 marijuana plants have been destroyed in a joint operation between San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County authorities. [LompocRecord] A Santa Barbara County rural crimes deputy discovered a questionable vehicle parked... (Continue reading)

Diver drowns at Lake Nacimiento

A diver drowned during a salvage mission at Lake Nacimiento on Sunday after he became trapped under the water. [KCOY] On Saturday, a boat sank in 60 to 70 feet of water at Bee Rock Cove. Two men were attempting... (Continue reading)

BP collecting millions from feds for Bakersfield plant

The federal government plans to spend more than $300 million to build a new power plant in Kern County, part of a joint venture involving the controversial British Petroleum. [California Watch] The U.S. Department of Energy announced the grant last... (Continue reading)

Irish students trashing Santa Barbara

Irish college students spending the summer in California on work visas are getting a bad reputation after one group caused $20,000 in damages to a Santa Barbara resort. [Irish Times] William Sanchez, property manager of the Breakpointe apartment complex in... (Continue reading)

Cash flows into Blakeslee-Laird race

During the last two months, both Republican Sam Blakeslee and Democrat John Laird have each raised about $1 million for their campaigns in the special state Senate election. [Santa Cruz Sentinel] An additional $2.5 million has been contributed by special... (Continue reading)

Finally! Blakeslee and Laird debate

After weeks of charges and counter charges over who is willing to debate whom, and where, Republican Sam Blakeslee and Democrat John Laird finally had a face-to-face, one-on-one debate. [Mercury News] The two major candidates in the upcoming Aug. 17... (Continue reading)

Committee forms to fight Measure H in San Luis Obispo

The debate over Prado Road took a major turn Thursday with the announcement of a new committee, formed to fight Measure H on the November ballot in San Luis Obispo. The controversial measure, which recently qualified following a successful petition... (Continue reading)

Heritage Oaks Bank reports huge losses

Heritage Oaks Bancorp on Wednesday reported a second quarter loss of $5.8 million and said it was continued to work through its problem loans and reduce its level of total non-performing assets. [MarketWatch] In comparison, during the second quarter of 2009,... (Continue reading)

Jerry Brown flying high–in a state-owned plane

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown may boast of flying Southwest Airlines, but a review of government records shows the state Attorney General often using a state-owned plane. [AP] Records reviewed by the Associated Press shows that Brown has used the... (Continue reading)

Sacramento wants to limit debit card fees

The state Assembly is expected to take up a bill this week, already passed in the Senate, that would make it illegal for merchants to charge debit card fees. [Chronicle] The legislation, originally introduced by state Senator Jenny Oropeza (D-Long... (Continue reading)