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Fireworks likely cause of Cambria fire

Written on 27 Dec, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments

Fireworks caused a small hillside fire in Cambria early Tuesday morning, according to firefighting officials. [Tribune] The fire burned a forested area of about 40 square feet on a hill below the Cambria Pines Lodge before firefighters extinguished it. Fireworks... (Continue reading)

Feds seize 204 bales of marijuana from panga near San Simeon

Written on 27 Dec, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 16 comments

Law enforcement officials seized 204 bales of marijuana, totaling 3,570 pounds, from a panga boat that beached north of Piedras Blancas Lighthouse and San Simeon on Monday. [Tribune] A witness spotted the smugglers late Monday afternoon and alerted the San... (Continue reading)

California Lobbying firm accused of promoting illegal contributions

Written on 27 Dec, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 5 comments

A former employee of one of California’s most prominent California lobbying firm says her former employer facilitated illegal contributions to dozens of politicians — including nearly a third of the Legislature. {LATimes] In a suit filed by Rhonda Smira, she... (Continue reading)

California transgender law set to take effect

Written on 26 Dec, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 23 comments

A law requiring California public schools to let transgender students use sex-segregated facilities is set to take effect Jan. 1, despite a legal challenge. [KTVU] The law will allow students identifying as transgender to use the bathrooms and locker rooms... (Continue reading)

Grover Beach motel catches fire on Christmas Eve

Written on 26 Dec, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

A fire broke out on Christmas Eve at a Grover Beach motel that doubles as a residential building. [Tribune] Around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Five Cities firefighters responded to a laundry room fire at the Grover Beach Inn on 5th Street... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria man accused of Christmas Eve kidnapping

Written on 26 Dec, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

Police officers arrested a Santa Maria Man in Arroyo Grande for allegedly kidnapping a woman on Christmas Eve. [KSBY] Officers responded to the reported kidnapping around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and searched for the vehicle of 41-year-old Daniel Espinoza. They found... (Continue reading)

County bullies in full revenge mode

Written on 24 Dec, 2013 in Featured, Opinion | 98 comments

OPINION: By DANIEL BLACKBURN It was a casual get-together of professional women, mostly from the South County and Santa Maria, and the tone was cordial until one of the ladies happened to mention that she had read an article on... (Continue reading)

Common sense, our elected officials and you

Written on 24 Dec, 2013 in Featured, Opinion | 10 comments

OPINION By LAURA MORDAUNT Our elected officials are usually ordinary people who decided to care about our county and its residents…blah, blah, blah. I think that is the way it use to be with some exceptions. Today what I see... (Continue reading)

New Times publishers win $3.7 million abuse of power lawsuit

Written on 24 Dec, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 11 comments

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted to pay Phoenix New Times publishers $3.7 million for politically motivated actions taken by county officials against the journalists. [azcentral.com] Last week’s settlements bring to at least $17 million the final taxpayer cost of... (Continue reading)

California judge rules public employees have vested rights to pensions

Written on 24 Dec, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 8 comments

A California judge ruled Monday that employees of the city of San Jose have vested rights to their pension benefits. [Mercury News] Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Patricia Lucas struck down part of a 2012 pension reform measure that... (Continue reading)