Daily Briefs


Stamps may go up to 46 cents

The U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday proposed a 2-cent increase in the price of a first-class postage stamp to 46 cents. If approved, the change would go into effect  Jan.2, 2011. [CNN] The proposed rate hike underscores the deep financial... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo Fire Chief John Callahan announces retirement

John Callahan, San Luis Obispo Fire Chief for the last five years, has announced plans to retire in November. The announcement came in an email from City Manager Katie Lichtig to employees. Callahan also sent out a separate email announcement... (Continue reading)

Marijuana legalization battle now waged on Facebook

The fight to legalize marijuana in California this November has now landed on Facebook. [Sacramento Bee] Proposition 19 supporters announced that their Facebook page already boasts more than 106,000 fans, compared to the mere two dozen who have signed up... (Continue reading)

Researchers claim reusable grocery bags contain bacteria

Researchers at Loma Linda University and the University of Arizona have found that reusable shopping bags, long championed by environmentalists, contain large amounts of bacteria, posing a risk that food could become cross-contaminated. [San Gabriel Tribune] The new findings come... (Continue reading)

State lottery increases your chance to win

Californians who buy lottery Scratcher tickets are winning more–and now playing more. [Ventura County Star] Scratcher sales leaped by $55 million in June, thanks to a change in state law allowing lottery officials to increase the percentage of revenues returned... (Continue reading)

Deputies destroy 31,000 marijuana plants

Californians may be getting ready to debate Proposition 19, the proposed legalization of marijuana this fall, but closer to home, law enforcement isn’t debating what to do about pot growers. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Deputies seized and destroyed approximately... (Continue reading)

New Times barred from city budget meeting

New Times was shown the door when a reporter tried to cover the first meeting of a new advisory committee, formed to provide input to the San Luis Obispo city manager on budget issues. [New Times] The Financial Sustainability Task... (Continue reading)

Surfer bitten by shark in Shell Beach

A 19-year-old man was bitten on the foot by a small shark while surfing Friday evening near Shell Beach. Beaches are remaining open, though Advisories have been posted. The young man was attacked just before 7 p.m. by a shark,... (Continue reading)

State worker pay cut now a standoff

Both sides in Sacramento seem to be claiming victory on the issue of a temporary pay cut for state workers. The courts ruled once again Friday in favor of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s right to pay state workers a minimum wage... (Continue reading)

Controller refuses to cut state workers’ pay

State Controller John Chiang announced Thursday that he would strongly defy Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s order to pay state workers minimum wage “until the courts hand down a final resolution.” [LA Times] Earlier in the day, the governor had ordered all... (Continue reading)