Daily Briefs


Chimney Fire burns homes, scorches 4,300 acres

The Chimney Fire near Nacimiento Lake has scorched 4,300 acres, destroyed 20 structures including homes and injured one firefighter. The fire is 10 percent contained. The fire, which is fueled by grass and drought stressed oak trees, is spreading primarily... (Continue reading)

Atascadero couple injured in motorcycle accident

A motorcycle crash Saturday near Shell Beach threw two Atascadero residents off their bike, causing each to suffer major injuries. Shortly before 5 p.m., the two Atascadero residents were headed northbound on Highway 101 near Avila Beach Drive when the... (Continue reading)

Armed robbery at Nipomo Smoke Shop

For the third time in two weeks, a man wielding a handgun robbed a South County business. In each case, the suspect was described as a white man, about 6 feet tall with a medium build. On Saturday at about... (Continue reading)

Fire at Lake Nacimiento grows to 1,450 acres

The Chimney Fire, burning near Nacimiento Lake, has scorched 1,450 acres as of 8:15 a.m. this morning — after a little more than 16 hours since it broke near the intersection of Chimney Rock Road and Nacimiento Lake Drive. The... (Continue reading)

Armed robbery at Sycamore Springs Resort

A man wielding a handgun robbed the Sycamore Springs Resort in Avila Beach Friday night. In a replay of a robbery at the Spyglass Inn in Pismo Beach a week earlier, officers searched for the robber but did not find... (Continue reading)

Atascadero council race takes shape

One incumbent and four challengers are competing for a total of two Atascadero City Council seats in the November election. Councilwoman Roberta Fonzi is running for reelection, while Councilman Bob Kelley has opted not to seek another term in office.... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande clerk beaten but staves off robbery, video

A robber punched a clerk at an Arroyo Grande AM/PM store, but neither he nor his accomplice managed to steal any cash. After the botched robbery, the suspects escaped and they remain on the loose. The clerk escaped the attack... (Continue reading)

Bus carrying farmworkers catches fire and crashes

A fiery bus with no one at the wheel rolled down a Santa Barbara County Highway and crashed into a ditch Thursday afternoon. Six people were injured and taken to the hospital, although only person suffered major injuries. [KEYT] Shortly... (Continue reading)

Who is spending what on California ballot measures?

A total of 17 statewide initiatives are on the November ballot, marking the most measures on a single ballot in California since March 2000. As of early August, donors have contributed almost $200 million to ballot measure campaigns. [LA Times]... (Continue reading)

Motel room standoff suspect sentenced to 14 years

A Nipomo man whom San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s deputies spent two weeks searching for has received a 14-year prison sentence for attempted murder. The search for Richard Anthony Rodriguez included a 12-hour standoff with an empty motel room. On... (Continue reading)