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Sacramento wants to limit debit card fees

Written on 5 Aug, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 5 comments

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)

Times: Prop 8 ruling “changes the debate over same-sex marriage forever”

Written on 5 Aug, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 2 comments

Wednesday’s historic court ruling in San Francisco, striking down Proposition 8 and giving gays and lesbians the legal right to marry, prompted a newspaper editorial to suggest the decision “changes the debate over same-sex marriage forever.”[LA Times] “When the evidence... (Continue reading)

Santa Barbara County supervisors try to halt Diablo Canyon re-licensing

Written on 4 Aug, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 3 comments

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors wants the federal government to not relicense the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in Avila Beach. [AP] Supervisors voted Tuesday to send a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, asking for a halt... (Continue reading)

Maldonado struggling in lieutenant governor race

Written on 4 Aug, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 5 comments

New financial reports indicate that Abel Maldonado’s campaign for California lieutenant governor is tens of thousands of dollars in debt, while the Republican still struggles to make himself known to voters. [Mercury News] A Field Poll from July shows Maldonado... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay sucked into City of Bell scandal

Written on 3 Aug, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 4 comments

Taxpayers in Morro Bay are about to find out they’re on the hook for the pension bills of disgraced public officials in a city more than two hundred miles away. [LA Times] A public firestorm erupted earlier this summer in... (Continue reading)

State orders California cities to disclose salaries

Written on 3 Aug, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 4 comments

In response to the scandal over salaries in Bell, State Controller John Chiang announced Tuesday that he would be posting salary information for elected city officials and other employees on his website beginning in November.  [LATimes] “The absence of transparency... (Continue reading)

Assault leads to burglary arrest

Written on 3 Aug, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 4 comments

Police say suspects in a string of local church and business burglaries had evidence of their deeds in a hotel room they had checked into. Officers discovered a printer, electronic equipment and personal identifications that did not belong to the... (Continue reading)

Managers earning more during state furloughs

Written on 3 Aug, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 3 comments

A review of public records is showing that hundreds of state managers and other high-ranking workers brought home more money home than usual during some weeks, thanks to a little-known federal law. [California Watch] During furlough weeks between February 2009... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo gets tough with landlords

Written on 3 Aug, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 10 comments

City officials plan to mail 3,900 enforcement letters later this month to San Luis Obispo property owners who appear to be renting homes without maintaining a required business tax certificate and license. [Tribune] Under the plan, property owners will be... (Continue reading)

Suspect sought in Grover Beach machete attack

Written on 2 Aug, 2010 in Daily Briefs | One comment

A dispute in Grover beach on south 13th Street has left one man recovering from gashes to his head and arms and police searching for the man suspected of the machete attack. At approximately 9:30 Saturday night, 34-year-old Damaso Labra... (Continue reading)