Daily Briefs


8 Zika virus cases on the Central Coast

Health officials have confirmed a total of eight cases of the Zika virus in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Seven of the eight locals who contracted the virus are Santa Barbara County residents. Local public health workers confirmed... (Continue reading)

Grover Beach identifies officer involved in dog attack

The Grover Beach Police Department has identified the owner of a dog that attacked two people last week, killing a 64-year-old man, as Officer Alex Geiger. He is currently on paid administrative leave while the attack is investigated. Last week, two... (Continue reading)

SLO high arson suspect arrested again

One of the three former San Luis Obispo High School students accused of setting the school’s computer lab on fire is back in jail. For the second time in a period of eight days, San Luis Obispo police arrested Jacob... (Continue reading)

Two drivers charged with manslaughter over SLO County crashes

Prosecutors have charged two drivers with manslaughter over separate deadly crashes that recently occurred in San Luis Obispo County. A Nipomo man is facing a misdemeanor charge pertaining to the death of a French woman, while a Templeton man is... (Continue reading)

CalPERS lowers investment forecasts, liabilities to increase

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) has decided to lower its discount rate from 7.5 percent to 7.0 percent, which will cause pension costs to rise for state and local government agencies. CalPERS’s discount rate is... (Continue reading)

TSA finds hand grenade trailer hitch at SLO airport

The TSA recently found a hand grenade trailer hitch inside luggage at San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. The item was determined not to be an explosive, but it did crack the TSA’s list of the “Top 10 Most Unusual... (Continue reading)

Man arrested in Texas for 2010 Grover Beach machete attack

After more than six years on the run, a man who allegedly carried out a bloody machete attack in Grover Beach is now sitting in San Luis Obispo County Jail. Damaso Labra, 41, was arrested in Texas. Around 9:30 on... (Continue reading)

California birth rate hits record low

California’s birth rate has fallen to a record low, dropping below the lowest level during the Great Depression. [Sac Bee] The state’s current rate is 12.42 live births per 1,000 people, according to a report released Monday by the California... (Continue reading)

Alleged sex abuse victim recants but judge dismisses her testimony

A 15-year-old girl who accused her relative, a Santa Maria youth basketball coach, of molesting her over the course of multiple years took to the witness stand Monday and recanted her story. Nonetheless, a judge ruled the alleged victim’s testimony... (Continue reading)

Prison inmate from Paso Robles escapes

A two-strike offender from Paso Robles is on the loose after escaping Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga on Monday. Brian Dill, 33, was being housed in the the minimum-security facility at the state prison. Correctional officials discovered Dill was... (Continue reading)