Daily Briefs


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)

Schwarzenegger changes his mind on offshore drilling

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger backed away from comments his staff made over the weekend and reversed his position on offshore oil drilling. Citing the extreme environmental damage being caused in the Gulf Coast by the British Petroleum spill, Schwarzenegger announced Monday... (Continue reading)

Schwarzenegger still wants to drill off Santa Barbara

Despite the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill that threatens coastline from Louisiana to Florida, considered by experts to be the worst U.S. ecological disaster in decades, members of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s administration continued to call for new drilling off Santa Barbara.... (Continue reading)

Abel Maldonado interviewed on Colbert Report

Another first for the Central Coast — Abel Maldonado became the first local public figure to be interviewed by Stephen Colbert on Comedy Central’s popular TV show, “The Colbert Report.” [Los Angeles Times] Maldonado flew to New York City for... (Continue reading)