Daily Briefs


Cal Poly names interim engineering dean

Mohammad Noori will step down as dean of the engineering college on June 30 and Erling Smith, the vice provost for programs and planning, will assume the duties of the dean until a new dean is found, according to an... (Continue reading)

Welfare recipients access ATM machines (in casinos)

A new statewide review has discovered that California welfare recipients are able to use state-issued debit cards to withdraw cash on gaming floors in more than half the casinos in California. [LA Times] An investigation by the Los Angeles Times... (Continue reading)

Governor prepared to pay minimum wage to state workers

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is threatening to pay minimum wage to state workers during July if lawmakers fail to agree on a new budget. [Los Angeles Times] The threat came in the form of a memo from Debbie Endsley, the governor’s... (Continue reading)

Court rules building owners liable for earthquake deaths

A California appellate court upheld a San Luis Obispo County jury decision to award the families of two women who were killed when a Paso Robles building collapsed on them almost $2 million in damages. [Judgment] The 111-year-old Acorn Building... (Continue reading)

Diablo Canyon Power Plant activates emergency plan

In response to an accidental release of carbon dioxide, a chemical used for fire suppression, officials at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in Avila Beach activated the emergency plan Wednesday morning. Nevertheless, there are no reports of damage to the facility... (Continue reading)

Election night cliffhanger: Blakeslee is close

Republican Sam Blakeslee came oh-so-close Tuesday night to clinching the state Senate race outright, but he fell short by only a handful of votes, leading observers to wonder whether there are uncounted absentee ballots remaining that might yet allow him... (Continue reading)

Be sure to vote today!

You have until 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 22nd, to cast your ballot and make your voices heard in the special state Senate District 15 election. Four candidates seek your vote: Republican Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo, Democrat John Laird... (Continue reading)

Dumb legislator of the week

Here’s our vote for the Dumb Legislator of the Week: The California Legislature is considering a proposal that would turn all license plates into mini-digital billboards for advertising. [Associated Press] State Sen. Curren Price (D-Los Angeles) is promoting the idea... (Continue reading)

The most popular articles on CalCoastNews

We had a staff meeting the other day and the question popped up–What are the the articles on our site getting the most attention, the most “hits?” We already know that the typical CalCoastNews reader is smarter, better read, and... (Continue reading)

Tuesday’s election centers on one issue: Oil

It probably wasn’t supposed to be this way, but analysts are suggesting that Tuesday’s special election to fill Abel Maldonado’s state Senate seat is coming down to one key issue: Offshore oil drilling and which candidate comes across with the... (Continue reading)