Daily Briefs


Increase in illegal immigrants coming to California by sea

Human smuggling off the coast of California is on the increase and officials worry that increased security measures on land will lead to more attempts by people to enter the country illegally — by sea. [California Watch] An additional concern... (Continue reading)

Brown targets CalPERS officials

California Attorney General Jerry Brown filed a lawsuit against two former officials of CalPERS, the nation’s largest public pension fund, for violating security laws. [Reuters] The complaint, announced Wednesday, focuses on former CalPERS chief executive Federico Buenrostro Jr. and former... (Continue reading)

Committee kills Blakeslee’s Gift Reform bill

A bill drafted by Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo] to close a loophole allowing lobbyists to circumvent limits on gifts to legislators was killed by committee on Tuesday. In 1974, the voters of California passed the Political Reform Act... (Continue reading)

PG&E told to release SmartMeter reports

The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is ordering PG&E to make public the company’s status reports on the deployment of its SmartMeters, whose accuracy is the subject of a state investigation. [San Francisco Chronicle] Michael Peevey, commission president, told PG&E... (Continue reading)

Four-way race for mayor shaping up in San Luis Obispo

The November ballot for mayor of San Luis Obispo could turn out to be quite crowded. City councilwoman Jan Marx recently announced her intention to seek the office. Now the Chamber of Commerce is saying that former city councilman Paul... (Continue reading)

Fake ID makers arrested

Law enforcement officials arrested two people for their part in a suspected counterfeit document operation in San Luis Obispo County on Monday. Officials said 27-year-old Olivia Hernandez Ortiz and 33-year-old Jose Lopez Villalobos were involved in manufacturing documents such as... (Continue reading)

Appellate court hearing scheduled in San Luis Obispo

In an unusual move, the California 2nd District Appellate Court will hear oral arguments regarding a contentious local appeal in the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisor chambers on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. An Oceano business owner, whose property... (Continue reading)

More than 200 animals found at California Valley Property

There’s another case of animal cruelty in San Luis Obispo County, this time more than 75 animals have been seized. Sheriff deputies found more than 200 animals of various types, including sick and deceased animals, at a remote California Valley... (Continue reading)

Sam Blakeslee gets an opponent

The August special election to fill the state Senate seat of Abel Maldonado heated up Monday when Democrat John Laird announced his candidacy. [Tribune] Laird, 60, a UC Santa Cruz environmental studies professor and former state assemblyman, will face Republican... (Continue reading)

PG&E’s Prop 16 campaign tactics declared illegal

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) was warned on Monday to stop using illegal telephone and direct mail tactics in their $35 million campaign to pass Proposition 16. (Los Angeles Times] The warning letter came from the  California Public Utilities Commission... (Continue reading)