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California’s worst tsunamis

Written on 28 Feb, 2010 in Daily Briefs | No comments

Expected tsunamis, generated by yesterday’s 8.8 magnitude Chilean earthquake, prompted the evacuations of thousands of people. However, while the surge could be seen in some areas, damage was minimal and in California little or no change in wave size was... (Continue reading)

Maldonado becomes “a political orphan”

Written on 28 Feb, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 5 comments

State Senator Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) is the subject of a profile in Sunday’s column by Steve Lopez. [Los Angeles Times] Calling Maldonado a “political orphan in Sacramento,” Lopez richly details our local state senator’s awkward situation:  “Maldonado is the... (Continue reading)

Sewage spill closes Moonstone Beach

Written on 27 Feb, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 2 comments

Public health officials closed Moonstone Beach in Cambria Saturday as the result of a sewage spill that occurred at around 12:15 a.m. A mudslide that ruptured water and sewer lines was determined to be the culprit in the 10,000 gallon... (Continue reading)

8.8 earthquake rocks Chile; tsunami warnings issued for Hawaii and California

Written on 27 Feb, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 2 comments

A devastating 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Chile Saturday morning, setting off a tsunami threatening California, Hawaii, and every Pacific Ocean nation. [Washington Post] Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma said this morning’s quake was the most powerful tremor to hit his... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly president agrees to help Haitian student

Written on 26 Feb, 2010 in Daily Briefs | One comment

California Polytechnic State University President Warren Baker agreed on Friday to give in-state tuition to a Haitian born student who was slated to return to his native country without his civil engineering degree because he was unable to pay for... (Continue reading)

Vermont closes only nuclear power plant

Written on 26 Feb, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 5 comments

For the first time in 20 years,  a state is closing down a nuclear power plant–and Central Coast activists are using the decision to press their case about Diablo Canyon. The Vermont Senate voted 26 to 4 this week to... (Continue reading)

Pilots want Oceano airport kept open

Written on 25 Feb, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 3 comments

Local pilots are contacting CalCoastNews, expressing concern over attempts to close down tiny–but they say critical–Oceano Airport. The 59-acre general aviation facility apparently looms on the development radar. Pilots claim an unknown developer has retained the law firm of Chevalier,... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly ignores plight of Haitian student

Written on 24 Feb, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 5 comments

Cal Poly’s only Haitian-born undergraduate student may have to return to his native country without his civil engineering degree because he is unable to pay for Spring Quarter tuition. Alcenat Honorat was sponsored into this country by a San Luis... (Continue reading)

Ex-UCSB engineer arrested for school death threats

Written on 24 Feb, 2010 in Daily Briefs | One comment

A man who claims to be the anti-Christ was arrested last week on suspicion of making a bomb threat against the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). [TriCityHerald] Neil Paul Baker, 51, a former UCSB Senior Development Engineer  was either... (Continue reading)

Despite $93 million, California weatherizes few homes

Written on 24 Feb, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 7 comments

California’s weatherization program has finished retrofitting just 12 houses out of a planned 43,400 homes statewide, despite receiving $93 million in federal stimulus funds for the program. [California Watch] A just-released Department of Energy study shows that only five states... (Continue reading)