Daily Briefs


Widow of mentally ill man sues SLO County for jail death

By JOSH FRIEDMAN San Luis Obispo County has been hit with another lawsuit over a jailhouse death, this time over a man who died behind bars after stabbing his wife during a mental illness episode. [Cal Coast Times] Margo Benson-Hammer,... (Continue reading)

Santa Barbara cold case killer sentenced to prison

With the help of DNA evidence found under the victim’s fingernails, the court sentenced Eutimio Oswaldo Aispuro to 16 years to life in state prison for the brutal murder of Samuel Bautista Justo in Santa Barbara in 2010. [Cal Coast... (Continue reading)

California music teacher arrested after punching student

A 64-year-old music teacher took numerous swings at a 14-year-old student who appeared to be acting belligerently at a Los Angeles area high school on Friday. [Cal Coast Times] The fist fight resulted in the teacher’s arrest. However, numerous people... (Continue reading)

Fire scorches 25 acres south of SLO

A fire broke out close to Highway 101 south of San Luis Obispo on Sunday and burned 25 acres. [Cal Coast Times] At about 10 a.m., the fire started in vegetation at 6295 Ontario Road near Johnson Ranch, according to... (Continue reading)

One man murdered, two people wounded in Santa Maria shootings

A pair of Friday night shootings in Santa Maria left one man dead and two people wounded, according to the city’s police department. [Cal Coast Times] Early Saturday morning, Santa Maria police arrested a juvenile, who is accused of killing... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles vineyard owner to give $1 billion to conservation efforts

Swiss billionaire and owner of Halter Ranch Vineyard in rural Paso Robles, Hansjorg Wyss, has a mission to conserve 30 percent of the earth’s surface by 2030, and he has announced he is donating $1 billion to the cause. [Cal... (Continue reading)

SLO City firefighters vote unanimously to endorse Gurnee for mayor

Members of the San Luis Obispo City Firefighters union voted unanimously to endorse Keith Gurnee for mayor. In their endorsement, firefighters touted Gurnee’s support of public safety during his previous term on the SLO City Council. [Cal Coast Times] “The... (Continue reading)

Did Southern California Edison equipment start Thomas Fire?

The utility Southern California Edison has released a statement acknowledging that its equipment may have helped sparked the Thomas Fire that devastated Ventura and Santa Barbara counties late last year and led to the deadly Montecito mudslides in early 2018.... (Continue reading)

Ryan Petetit wants to block past abuse allegations from jury

By KAREN VELIE As Ryan Petetit’s domestic abuse trial nears, San Luis Obispo County prosecutors are asking the judge to allow several of his former girlfriends to testify about alleged previous incidents of assault and abuse. Petetit’s attorney is objecting... (Continue reading)

Judge finds victim in contempt of court in attempted murder trial

An attempted murder trial that could result in a San Miguel man going to prison for life began Wednesday, even though the key witness in the case, the alleged victim and girlfriend of the defendant, is refusing to cooperate and... (Continue reading)