Daily Briefs


Road rage prompts shooting in Lompoc

A Santa Maria man allegedly peppered a car with bullet holes in Lompoc after a brief bout with road rage. [KEYT] At least one person was in the targeted vehicle at the time of the shooting. No one suffered any... (Continue reading)

Brush fire near Santa Margarita Lake

Firefighters are battling a small brush fire near Las Pilitas and Vista Del Lago roads in Santa Margarita. Shortly before noon on Sunday, CAL FIRE responded to reports of a fire with 10 engines, a dozer, an aircraft, a tanker... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly warned about Saint Fratty’s Day party

A Cal Poly fraternity president warned university administrators of the “St. Fratty’s Day” events to be held the morning of March 7, but university officials did not investigate the warning. [Tribune] On March 3, four day before eight students were... (Continue reading)

Plane crashes into Orcutt strawberry field

A small plane crash-landed into a strawberry field in Orcutt on Saturday afternoon. Shortly before noon, a man attempted to land the Piper Cherokee Arrow in a field near Clark Avenue and Highway 101 after experiencing mechanical failure. A father,... (Continue reading)

Bowling alley proposed for downtown SLO

An out-of-area developer has submitted plans to transform the former downtown San Luis Obispo Sports Authority space into a bowling alley, restaurant and live music venue. [Tribune] Jeremy Pemberton filed for a conditional-use permit to allow alcohol to be served... (Continue reading)

Murder trial witness a no show in court

A primary witness in the murder trial of Tom Yanaga from Paso Robles did not show up in court on Friday for her second day of testimony. Ashley Moss, 25, said she watched Yanaga load his gun before he shot... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria teacher gets year in jail for sex with student

A Santa Maria judge sentenced a former high school teacher and coach to one year in jail for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student. [KEYT] Brian Hook, 54, taught social science and coached varsity girls’ basketball at Santa... (Continue reading)

California ordered to change the sex of an inmate

A federal judge has ordered the state of California to allow a prison inmate to undergo gender reassignment surgery. [LA Times] U.S. District Court Judge Jon Tigar ruled in San Francisco that the state was violating Michelle-Lael Norsworthy’s constitutional rights... (Continue reading)

Trice sentences Central Coast Bandit

San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge John Trice doled out a 16-year prison sentence on Thursday to Cristina Fernandez Padilla, a Watsonville woman better known as the Central Coast Bandit. Padilla robbed six banks in three counties over an eight-month... (Continue reading)

California cities, towns must cut water use by 25 percent

California Governor Jerry Brown announced an executive order Wednesday that will require all cities and towns in the state to cut their water use 25 percent from 2013 levels. [LA Times] The executive order is California’s first mandatory water use... (Continue reading)