Daily Briefs


SLO County proposal on taxi DUIs becomes California law

A bill setting a new blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for taxi and Uber drivers was signed into law Wednesday by California Gov. Jerry Brown. San Luis Obispo County prosecutor Lee Cunningham authored the bill, and Central Coast Assemblyman Katcho... (Continue reading)

Nipomo man killed in motorcycle crash on Highway 101

A 29-year-old Nipomo man died after crashing his motorcycle on Highway 101 in Carpinteria Wednesday morning. David Jacob Franks crashed his bike while trying to ride between lanes of traffic. [KCOY] Around 7:40 a.m., Franks was riding a 2003 Suzuki... (Continue reading)

SLO County Supervisors reject Laetitia Winery development

Citing concerns about water use, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors rejected a proposed housing development at Laetitia Vineyard and Winery. Laetitia winery is located on a 1,910-acre property between Arroyo Grande and Nipomo. The vineyard is zoned... (Continue reading)

SLO man allegedly molested his ex-girlfriend’s daughter

A man accused of sexually abusing the 10-year-old daughter of San Luis Obispo woman he was dating, recently sent a text message to the now-14-year-old girl telling her she was still a virgin. [Tribune] Matthew Roland Betts, 44, allegedly molested... (Continue reading)

Elderly man drowns in Avila Beach hotel pool

An 88-year-old man was pronounced dead Tuesday afternoon shortly after he was found at the bottom of a hotel pool in Avila Beach. [KSBY] At 1:22 p.m., Cal Fire responded a call about a possible drowning at the San Luis... (Continue reading)

Inmate escapes from Lompoc Federal Prison

Federal and local law enforcement agencies are searching for an inmate who escaped from the Federal Correctional Complex in Lompoc on Monday. Vicente Ramirez Jr., 27, who was discovered missing from the minimum-security complex at approximately 4 p.m., was serving... (Continue reading)

Rail spur opponents take aim at Peschong

Ahead of a San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission vote on the proposed Nipomo rail spur, opponents of the oil train project are attempting to seize on the fact that District 1 supervisorial candidate John Peschong has a business relationship... (Continue reading)

Homeless woman stabbed in Santa Maria

A homeless was stabbed early Monday while she was camping in a trashcan enclosure behind two businesses in Santa Maria. Police said the woman suffered potentially life-threatening injuries, but she is reportedly recovering from surgery. [KSBY] Santa Maria police and... (Continue reading)

Five Santa Barbara County residents infected with Zika virus

Santa Barbara County health officials have confirmed a total of five residents in the county who have contracted the Zika virus. Three of the five Zika cases were confirmed this month. Each of the individuals who tested positive for the... (Continue reading)

CHP conducts DUI checkpoint following Pozo Saloon concert

The California Highway Patrol, in conjunction with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint Saturday night in Santa Margarita. Authorities stopped drivers as they were leaving a concert at the Pozo Saloon. CHP... (Continue reading)