Daily Briefs


Rocket launches from Vandenberg but botches landing

A rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Sunday and successfully delivered an ocean-monitoring satellite into space, but it failed to stick the landing. The rocket broke a support leg and tipped over after landing on a barge 200... (Continue reading)

Police arrest SLO felon suspected in shooting

San Luis Obispo police arrested a felon who allegedly fired a gun near a condominium complex last week. The man is also suspected in several recent burglaries, and officers found he had stolen goods in his possession. On Friday afternoon,... (Continue reading)

Santa Margarita woman killed in head-on crash

A 54-year-old Santa Margarita woman died Sunday after an oncoming driver drifted into her lane and caused a head-on collision. [KSBY] The victim has been identified as 54-year-old Joni Kinkel. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash... (Continue reading)

Did a former Cayucos firefighter kill his father?

A witness in the human trafficking trial of Oscar Higueros Jr. told investigators the defendant claimed he murdered his father more than three decades ago. Higueros Jr. is currently on trial in a human trafficking case. [Tribune] Higueros Jr., a... (Continue reading)

Former Atascadero mayoral candidate arrested

Following a nearly four-hour standoff on Friday, police arrested a former Atascadero mayoral candidate. Charles Scovell, 37, ran for mayor in 2014. In response to a call that a man was hitting a women with a beer bottle, police went... (Continue reading)

Chubby man accused of harassing teen girl in SLO

An overweight, 20-year-old man stopped a 15-year-old girl on a San Luis Obispo street Wednesday and asked for directions, made lewd comments and appeared to be masturbating underneath his clothing, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department. Around 2... (Continue reading)

Commission approves Templeton psychiatric hospital

The San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday in support of a proposed mental health hospital in Templeton. An appeal of the project to the board of supervisors is likely, though. Harvey and Melanie Billig are seeking approval... (Continue reading)

Burglar caught in Hawaii after breaking into SLO County ATMs

A Bay Area man allegedly stole cash from ATMs in Northern California and San Luis Obispo County late last year and then arrived in Hawaii in time to ring in the new year. But, on New Year’s Eve, Honolulu police... (Continue reading)

Nurse alleges sexism at ASH

In a civil trial underway at the Paso Robles Courthouse, a former Atascadero State Hospital nurse is alleging her former supervisor discriminated against women and left her alone with ASH patients in dangerous situations. [Tribune] Janet Ochotorena, 53, was hired... (Continue reading)

Death of Cal Poly student ruled suicide

A Cal Poly student who was struck and killed by a train Saturday evening committed suicide, the San Luis Obispo County coroner’s unit has ruled. In a separate investigation, the coroner’s unit has determined a transient woman who was hit... (Continue reading)