Daily Briefs


Brown declares emergency over Central Coast oil spill

California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency Wednesday in response to the oil spill near Goleta that has caused about 21,000 gallons of crude to flow into the ocean. Brown’s emergency declaration frees state funds and resources to... (Continue reading)

Pismo Beach council tables building moratorium

Following objections from residents and developers, the Pismo Beach City Council tabled a proposed building moratorium. [Tribune] On Tuesday, the council considered adopting an ordinance that would prohibit the city from issuing building permits for vacant lots. Developers could only... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles teen suffers major injuries in crash

A Paso Robles teen broke multiple bones in a crash Tuesday morning, and emergency personnel later airlifted her to Stanford University Hospital. Shortly before 8 a.m., Karley Jean Maldonado, 18, was driving a 2002 Volkswagen convertible on Union Road near... (Continue reading)

Car with 77 pounds of pot stopped in North County

A California Highway Patrol officer found 77 pounds of marijuana stuffed into a sports car during a traffic stop Monday morning north of Paso Robles. Around 10:45 a.m., CHP Officer D. Agredano was driving northbound on Highway 101 south of... (Continue reading)

Oil pipeline spills 21,000 gallons off Central Coast

A ruptured pipeline near Goleta spilled 21,000 gallons of crude oil into the ocean Tuesday creating an approximately four-mile wide oil slick. The portion of the pipeline near Refugio State Beach broke in the early afternoon spilling oil into a... (Continue reading)

Grover Beach commander to be next police chief

The Grover Beach City Council selected Police Commander John Peters as the city’s next chief. [KEYT] Peters is a 10-year veteran of the Grover Beach force. He will take over as chief on June 1 with a base salary of... (Continue reading)

SLO Symphony conductor fired, violists threaten exodus

The San Luis Obispo Symphony board of directors has fired its longtime music conductor and director, Michael Nowak, prompting the entire violist section to threaten leaving the orchestra. Last week, the board announced in a press release that Nowak was... (Continue reading)

Is Diablo desal SLO County’s next water source?

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors is slated to approve an agreement Tuesday that, in emergency situations, will allow the county’s branch of Cal Fire to purchase desalinated water from Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Pacific Gas & Electric... (Continue reading)

Shelly Higginbotham running for District 3 supervisor

Pismo Beach Mayor Shelly Higginbotham announced Monday her candidacy for the San Luis Obispo County supervisor seat currently held by Adam Hill. Higginbotham joins San Luis Obispo Councilman Dan Carpenter, former Grover Beach Mayor Debbie Peterson and Hill in a... (Continue reading)

Obama ordering restrictions on police militarization

U.S. President Barack Obama plans to issue an order Monday banning federal authorities from providing certain types of military-style equipment to local police departments. [New York Times] Obama is expected to prohibit police departments from using federal funds to acquire... (Continue reading)