Daily Briefs


Inmate who robbed Morro Bay Motel 6 caught in Oregon

A 40-day, cross-country manhunt for an inmate who robbed Motel 6 in Morro Bay ended Monday at a homeless services center in Oregon. Joshua Lee Drinnon, 36, escaped captivity on Sept. 2 and disappeared into an Illinois cornfield. Drinnon, who... (Continue reading)

Cities demand halt to Nipomo Mesa development

The cities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Pismo Beach are seeking a court order barring new development and new groundwater pumping on the Nipomo Mesa. [Tribune] The three South County cities have long been battling the Nipomo Community Services... (Continue reading)

Oceano man injured in roll over crash

A 41-year-old Ocean man suffered major injuries after he crashed on U.S. Highway 101 near 10th Street in San Miguel on Sunday, California Highway Patrol officials said. Shortly after 3 p.m., the Oceano man was headed southbound at about 70... (Continue reading)

California to automatically register drivers to vote

California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law Saturday that will automatically register state residents to vote when they obtain or renew a driver’s license. [Mercury News] Assembly Bill 1461, which was authored by Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, contains... (Continue reading)

Smoke plumes rise from Cuesta Fire

Over the weekend, San Luis Obispo County firefighters dealt with seven hot spots that flared up within the Cuesta Fire containment lines. [KSBY] At about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, people began reporting two plumes of smoke on a hillside off... (Continue reading)

Randy and Evi Quaid facing extradition

The Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office is working to extradite actor Randy Quaid and his wife Evi Quaid to face charges of felony vandalism. In 2010, the couple fled to Canada after they were charged with breaking into a Montecito... (Continue reading)

Gov. Jerry Brown Signs new marijuana legislation

Gov. Jerry Brown signed a trio of bills into law Friday that establish statewide rules on the growth, distribution and sale of marijuana. “This new structure will make sure patients have access to medical marijuana, while ensuring a robust tracking... (Continue reading)

Man stabbed in oceano

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff deputies are investigating a Friday afternoon fight in Oceano that left one man with a stab wound and another with facial injuries. Shortly before 3 p.m., the fight broke out near the intersection of 21st... (Continue reading)

San Miguel man tries to kidnap his girlfriend

A San Miguel man attempted to kidnap his girlfriend early Thursday morning, but the woman fled with a witness who came to her aid, according to the Paso Robles Police Department. Paso Robles police arrested 26-year-old Jose Ayala Martinez after... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande City Council approves Tompkins’ project again

A month after approving a mixed-use project planned by developer Nick Tompkins, the Arroyo Grande City Council again approved the development. [Tribune] Tompkins, the owner of development firm NKT Commercial, is planning to build a high-density housing and mixed use... (Continue reading)