Daily Briefs


Shark attacks surfer in Morro Bay

A 54-year-old Los Osos woman survived a shark attack while surfing Saturday morning at Morro Strand State Beach. [Daily Mail] The shark bit off an approximately 14-inch-wide chunk of Elinor Dempsey’s surfboard. But, Dempsey escaped the attack uninjured. Dempsey initially... (Continue reading)

Man killed in crash at Oceano Dunes

A 27-year-old man died and a second person was airlifted to the hospital following a crash at the Oceano Dunes Sunday afternoon. [KSBY] The 27-year-old was driving a vehicle on the dunes around 4 p.m. when the vehicle rolled down... (Continue reading)

Fire sparks at Lopez Lake

Cal Fire crews responded to a wildfire at Lopez Lake in San Luis Obispo County Sunday afternoon, according to Cal Fire. Shortly after 4:30 p.m., an approximately three acre fire was reported burning at the Arboleda Picnic area. No structures... (Continue reading)

Woman drowns in ocean off Big Sur

A 20-year-old woman drowned Friday after slipping off a Big Sur cliff and falling into the ocean. At around 2:30 p.m., Medina Faraz of Union City was hiking in the area of McWay Falls, near Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.... (Continue reading)

Santa Barbara doctor convicted of drug trafficking

A Santa Barbara-area physician who wrote numerous prescriptions for powerful painkillers, such as OxyContin, for “patients” – many of whom were drug addicts, and some of whom died from drug overdoses – was convicted Friday of 79 drug trafficking charges,... (Continue reading)

San Luis Harbor District manager leaving

The Port San Luis Harbor District Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on Thursday not to renew harbor manager Steve McGrath’s contract. His contract expires Nov. 30. [Tribune] After 10 years with the district, three fisherman board members voted against renewing... (Continue reading)

Another SLO finance boss departing

Wayne Padilla, director of finance and information technology for the city of San Luis Obispo, has resigned his post. Padilla told CalCoastNews Friday he will be leaving Sept. 15 to take a job in Fresno in the private sector. Padilla... (Continue reading)

California bill calls for restrictions on releasing illegal immigrants

As a response to the killing of Cal Poly grad Kathryn Steinle, Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill restricting transfers of illegal immigrants from federal to local custody. [LA Times] SB 57, authored by senators Bob Huff and Shannon Runner,... (Continue reading)

Manson follower again eligible for parole from CMC

Prison officials have again found Manson family member Bruce Davis eligible for parole from the California Men’s Colony. Davis, 72, has been serving life sentences for two 1969 murders, as well as conspiracy to commit murder. He was not directly... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay councilman requests time off

Morro Bay Councilman Matt Makowetski is requesting up to 90 days off as he battles what he describes as a “very persistent eye infection.” In a letter to Mayor Jamie Irons, Makowetski said he has been battling the eye infection... (Continue reading)