Daily Briefs


Field of candidates taking shape in race to replace Capps

Three candidates have announced their intention to run in the congressional race to fill a seat that Rep. Lois Capps announced she would vacate at the end of her current term. Capps released a video Wednesday in which she says... (Continue reading)

Lucia Mar strike likely avoided

The Lucia Mar Unified School District has reached a tentative agreement with its teachers’ union that may settle a heated contract dispute. District officials and the Lucia Mar Teachers’ Association have clashed for months, and union members voted late last... (Continue reading)

Lois Capps announces retirement

Democratic Rep. Lois Capps, who has represented the Central Coast in Congress since 1998, released a video statement Wednesday announcing that this will be her final term in the House of Representatives and that she will retire at the conclusion... (Continue reading)

Where does California stand in property tax rankings?

California has the 17th lowest property taxes among all 50 U.S. states, according to a report compiled by consumer financial website WalletHub. [LA Times] The average property tax paid by California real estate owners in 2015 is $1,431. Hawaii has... (Continue reading)

SLO County supervisors vote in favor of new animal shelter

San Luis Obispo County’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to replace the county’s dilapidated animal shelter with a new 15,000 square foot shelter. Currently, animals are housed in a 45-year-old facility that was built over a landfill. Because of issues... (Continue reading)

Did Santa Barbara health clinic infect patients with Hepatitis C?

Santa Barbara health officials have closed a medical clinic while they try to determine if its staff infected patients with Hepatitis C and other blood-borne illnesses. In February, a patient at the unnamed clinic was diagnosed with an acute case... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria jury convicts 5 in U-Haul murder trial

A Santa Maria jury delivered first-degree murder convictions to five of six defendants who stood trial for the killing of a 28-year-old man that allegedly occurred as retribution for a drug debt. [Lompoc Record] Ramon Maldonado, 39, David Maldonado, 57,... (Continue reading)

Sea lion takes California fisherman for a plunge

A fisherman was posing for a photo with fish he caught in a San Diego bay when a sea lion leaped out of the water, chomped on the fish and dragged the 62-year-old man into bay. [Mercury News] The sea... (Continue reading)

Boat erupts into flames at Port San Luis

A fishing boat docked in Port San Luis Harbor burst into flames Sunday night. [KEYT] Authorities found the boat fully engulfed in flames shortly before midnight. No one was on board, and no one suffered any injuries during the fire.... (Continue reading)

Man killed in Oceano Dunes crash

A Bay Area man, who was celebrating his 21st birthday, died in a crash at the Oceano Dunes on Saturday. [KSBY] Erwin Baker was off-roading in an open riding area around 3 p.m. when he drove off a large dune,... (Continue reading)