Daily Briefs


Surfer suffers shark bite at Montana de Oro

A shark attacked and bit, but did not kill, a man surfing near the sand spit at Montana de Oro Sunday morning. [Tribune] Shortly after 11 a.m., an approximately 8 to 10-foot juvenile shark swam underneath the surfer and grazed... (Continue reading)

Man dies in Oceano Dunes accident

A bizarre accident trapped a man between two vehicles and killed him at the Oceano Dunes Sunday evening. [KSBY] The victim was getting something out of his truck when another vehicle hit him from behind. The collision trapped the man... (Continue reading)

Car crashes, catches fire, kills Santa Maria woman

A woman died in a crash in Santa Maria Sunday evening after the car she was traveling in combusted. The vehicle was heading southbound on Highway 101 near Donovan Road when it hit a guard rail, left the highway, crashed... (Continue reading)

Strong arm robber surrenders to police

A teenager caught on video robbing a Santa Maria market on Christmas Day turned himself in on Friday. The 17-year-old, who is not being named because of his age, was watching the news with his parents when a surveillance photo... (Continue reading)

Do social services agencies promote drugging children?

Amid demands for foster care reform, the Bay Area News Group has been documenting the alarming use of medications allegedly used to control foster children through sedation. Bay area reporters interviewed 175 people, including dozens of current and former foster... (Continue reading)

SEC charges Santa Barbara company with fraud

The Securities and Exchange Commission charged a Santa Barbara based stock promoter last week with fraudulently raising nearly $3.5 million from investors purportedly to purchase Facebook and Twitter shares prior to their initial public offerings (IPOs). The SEC alleges that... (Continue reading)

Californians get 900 new laws

On New Year’s Day California will have 900 new laws including one that allows drivers licenses for undocumented workers and several that help protect against online bullying. Here are some of the new laws: Law against posting private nude photos... (Continue reading)

Cambria emergency water project behind schedule

The Cambria Community Services District did not meet its target date of earlier this week to launch its $9 million emergency water supply project. [Tribune] CSD workers are nearing completion of a water treatment plant and supply system that will... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria man arrested for murdering mother

A Santa Maria man is accused of murdering his mother, whose body turned up in the Orange County city of La Habra in July. [KEYT] Authorities arrested Gabriel Espinoza Tuesday at his Santa Maria home. In July, a man found... (Continue reading)

San Miguel residents killed in Christmas Eve crash

The California Highway Patrol has identified four people from San Miguel as the victims of a fatal crash on Highway 101 near Paso Robles Wednesday evening. The collision occurred when a semi-truck attempted to turn left into the San Paso... (Continue reading)