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PG&E admits to thousands of inaccurate utility bills

Written on 11 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 11 comments

Consumer advocates are calling for a moratorium on the so-called SmartMeters after PG&E admitted Monday that as many as 23,000 customers statewide received inaccurate electricity bills. [Mercury News] PG&E could not pinpoint how many of those customers were overcharged, or... (Continue reading)

Entire state tax board on the June ballot

Written on 10 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | One comment

All four members of a powerful though low profile tax board are up for grabs in June. [LATimes] California’s Board of Equalization is the nation’s only elected state tax board. The board settles state taxpayer disputes and determines which corporations... (Continue reading)

County supervisors to pressure state over Dunes pollution

Written on 10 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | One comment

County supervisors are expected to decide Tuesday whether to send a letter to the State Parks Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Division in an attempt to pressure state officials into getting more involved in the ongoing health debate about the Oceano Dunes... (Continue reading)

Missing at-risk adult in San Luis Obispo found

Written on 9 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | No comments

The San Luis Obispo Police Department and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team were searching for an at-risk missing developmentally disabled adult. James Pasquale, 42, returned on his own to the Sunset Drive-in last night at... (Continue reading)

New CSU websites designed to promote transparency

Written on 9 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | One comment

A recent executive order from Governor Schwarzenegger has prompted many of the 23 California State University campuses to start posting information online about their contracts with vendors, external audits, and financial statements. [California Watch] The governor issued the order last... (Continue reading)

Major gang bust in Santa Maria

Written on 8 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 8 comments

Santa Maria police arrested dozens of gang members in a sweeping crackdown on gangs, drugs and violence. [KSBY] On Thursday and Friday, police arrested 35 members of the West Park Criminal Street Gang at numerous locations throughout the area. Charges... (Continue reading)

Democrats sue to block special election date

Written on 8 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 3 comments

Angry Democrats have gone to federal court in an attempt to block the upcoming special state Senate race between Republican Sam Blakeslee and Democrat John Laird. [San Francisco Chronicle] A lawsuit filed Thursday in San Jose on behalf of three... (Continue reading)

Increase in illegal immigrants coming to California by sea

Written on 7 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 7 comments

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

Written on 6 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | No comments

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

Written on 6 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | One comment

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)