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Plans to divert state prisoners to county jails

Newly inaugurated Gov. Jerry Brown will propose shifting low-level offenders from state prisons to county jails as one of many budget cuts to shrink California’s $28 billion deficit. [CaliforniaWatch] But this solution also poses a number of problems. First among... (Continue reading)

Supervisors plan to tackle big issues

San Luis Obispo County supervisors listened Tuesday as several speakers voiced their concerns about controversial issues including recent medical marijuana arrests, SmartMeters and flooding in Oceano and signaled that they plan to deal with these issues. [Tribune] Several people spoke... (Continue reading)

Marijuana dispensary arrestees’ attorney speaks out

STATEMENT By DAVID FISHER Please be advised this office has been retained to represent Christopher and Amy Austin, Rachel and Charles Tamagni, Peter Miller, and Steven Gordon regarding their recent arrests during the raids of several medical marijuana services. While... (Continue reading)

Pismo Beach declares emergency

The damage from December’s rains is estimated to cost the City of Pismo Beach $1 million and has prompted the City Council to declare a local state of emergency. [KSBY] The rain is being blamed for costly damages including the... (Continue reading)

Sheriff Parkinson takes charge

Ian Parkinson was sworn in Monday as the new San Luis Obispo County Sheriff. The former police captain, elected last November, took the oath of office in front of a packed audience in the county supervisors chamber. Later in the... (Continue reading)

Aggressive marijuana busts prompt protests

Medical marijuana advocates plan to protest against what they claim were aggressive and uncalled for raids on local cannabis delivery services at a rally planned for Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 a.m., in front of the San Luis Obispo County... (Continue reading)

Laird appears headed back to Sacramento

Former Democratic state Assemblyman John Laird, who lost last summer’s special state Senate election to Republican Sam Blakeslee, is expected to play a pivotal role in the new Jerry Brown administration. [Mercury News] Laird, 60, who also served as mayor... (Continue reading)

Violence increases at California state hospitals

Three Sacramento lawmakers, including state Senator Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo) are pressing for significant changes to make state mental hospitals safer. [LA Times] The new call stems from the slaying of a Napa State Hospital psychiatric technician two months... (Continue reading)

Worst. governor. ever.

The media post-mortem on the legacy of soon-to-be-former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been unfolding all week and it has not been pretty.  The verdict seems to be that the Hollywood actor who rode into office on a wave of hollow... (Continue reading)

Legal challenge to smart meters

OPINION By JUDY VICK If you haven’t already, you will soon receive a notice from PG&E announcing the installation of a wireless smart meter on your home. The proposed benefits might sound good–a way to get more specific information about... (Continue reading)