Featured


SLO City Council finalizes budget

After several months of heated budget talks, the San Luis Obispo City Council passed a balanced budget for fiscal years 2011-12 and 2012-13. The council eliminated a previously existing $4.4 million shortfall in the $99.6 million budget by cutting $2.6 million... (Continue reading)

SLO County approves new budget

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors passed a $450 million budget Tuesday night after three days of hearings. The new budget, which takes effect July 1, represents a $1.9 million increase in spending and no reduction in jobs.... (Continue reading)

Carbon monoxide detectors required by law

California residents will be required to install carbon monoxide detectors into their single-family homes beginning July 1 to protect against poisoning and accidental death from the odorless gas. [MercuryNews] About 30 to 40 Californians die each year from carbon monoxide... (Continue reading)

California death penalty cases cost $184 million each year

California death penalty cases cost $184 million each year Since California reinstated the death penalty in 1978, the state’s taxpayers have spent more than $4 billion on capital punishment. The state has carried out 13 executions since then, or about... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo farm subsidy leaders

The Republican-dominated House voted against cutting farm subsidies for the wealthy while agreeing to slash domestic and international food aid on Thursday. The bill to cut Agriculture Department and Food and Drug Administration spending by 13 percent for the budget year... (Continue reading)

Antelope Fire 90 percent contained

Firefighters have slowed the wildfire burning in San Luis Obispo and Kern counties and report it is 90 percent contained, according to a Tuesday evening release. The Antelope Fire burned two outbuildings in Kern County and a total of 5,196... (Continue reading)

Movie Review: The Green Lantern

BY MIRANDA FORESMAN Dear Ryan Reynolds, I’m afraid we must break up. After anticipating your film Green Lantern for what feels like years, the majority of your body didn’t even show up. You let them CGI your tush in. Other... (Continue reading)

NRC on Diablo nuclear safety

Officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission informed Santa Barbara County Supervisors June 16 that Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant is operated safely and is not a threat. [SantaBarbaraIndependent] Assurances were offered after inspections were made of nuclear power plants throughout... (Continue reading)

Antelope Fire grows to 5068 acres

Firefighters are battling a wildfire that has already destroyed one structure and burned 5,068 acres of grass land in San Luis Obispo and Kern counties. The Antelope Fire started Sunday afternoon near the intersection of Highway 46 and Highway 33... (Continue reading)

COLAB sues over wildlife guidelines

A group of business owners is suing Ventura County over an environmental policy passed by the Board of Supervisors in April. The policy, adopted to protect plants and animals, requires land owners to produce environmental impact reports when “important” species... (Continue reading)