SanLuisObispo.com: Breaking News

UPDATE: Woman who died at Oceano Dunes was 53-year-old transient

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:40 PDT

Park rangers on Thursday were looking into a suspicious death at the Oceano Dunes that occurred the previous evening.

An woman identified only as a 53-year-old local transient died around 7:30 p. m. Wednesday after she was found not breathing, according to Supervising Park Ranger Michael Lack.

Park officials found the woman unresponsive in a camping area, where a nearby camper was giving her CPR.

Pilot arrested for alleged drunken flying after landing woes in Santa Maria

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:30 PDT

A pilot was arrested for alleged drunken flying after the troublesome landing of his single-engine airplane at Santa Maria Airport.

The pilot made a nose-down landing that collapsed the nose gear on the Cessna aircraft Wednesday evening. Santa Barbara County fire Capt. Eli Iskow says the nose hit the tarmac and firefighters were called at 6:25 p.m.

Pilot Gregory Anderson wasn’t hurt, but the 57-year-old Santa Maria man showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol and he was arrested.

Four teens plead not guilty to Santa Barbara gang stabbings

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:28 PDT

Four teenagers pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder for a Santa Barbara street brawl last summer that left a 16-year-old boy stabbed to death and two others wounded.

Bryan Steven Medinilla, Ruben Nicholas Mize, Carlos Diaz and Emilio Mora entered pleas Wednesday to the gang-related killing. Medinilla and Mize are 16 years old and are being tried as adults with Diaz and Mora, both 19.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 21.

Collision on Highway 1 sends three to the hospital

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:23 PDT

Three people were injured in a collision involving two motorcycles and a sport utility vehicle Thursday night.

Around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, two motorcycles were stopped on southbound Highway 1 and Education Drive. A 2002 Cadillac Escalade, driven by Edgar J Vargas Leon, 20 of Oceano, was traveling northbound on Highway 1, and went to make a left turn to Education Drive.

Leon continued through the intersection after the turning arrow had turned red. Victor Sammy Nigro, 65, of Morro Bay was on a 1998 Honda Shadow motorcycle and started through the intersection when the light turned green. F Anthony Linhares, 48, of Morro Bay was driving a 2006 Harley Davidson and also proceeded through the intersection.

Law enforcement leaders endorse Debbie Arnold for 5th District Supervisor

Thu, 15 May 2008 19:25 PDT

Fifth District supervisor candidate Debbie Arnold has announced the backing of several present and former law enforcement leaders in the June 3 primary.

Sheriff Pat Hedges, former Paso Robles Police Dennis Cassidy, former San Luis Obispo Police Chief Jim Gardiner, and Assistant CHP Coastal Division Commander Dwight Goggins are supporting Arnold.

“We need common sense leaders like Debbie Arnold who understand that protecting citizens from gangs and drugs is the most important ‘quality of life’ issue in the county today.” Cassidy said.

Rangers looking into suspicious death at Oceano Dunes

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:57 PDT

Park rangers Thursday were looking into what they described as a suspicious death at the Oceano Dunes that occurred the previous evening.

An unidentified woman who appeared to be in her 50s died around 7:30 p.m. after she was found not breathing, according to Supervising Park Ranger Michael Lack.

The woman was found unresponsive in a camping area at the Dunes where an unidentified person was performing CPR on her.

GALA will hold rally in SLO today to celebrate court's decision to uphold gay marriage rights

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:55 PDT

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast is hosting a press conference and rally at the County Government Center, 1055 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo, at 5 p.m. today.

The nonprofit organization will host speakers and celebrate the decision of the California Supreme Court to uphold marriage rights for same-sex couples with a wedding cake.

GALA aims to promote the well-being of the gay and lesbian community. The event is free and open to the public.

California's top court overturns gay marriage ban

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:05 PDT

The California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved gay marriage ban Thursday in a ruling that would make the nation’s largest state the second one to allow gay and lesbian weddings.

The justices released the 4-3 decision, saying that domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage in an opinion written by Chief Justice Ron George. Justices Joyce Kennard, Kathryn Werdegar and Carlos Moreno joined the majority.

Outside the courthouse, gay marriage supporters cried and cheered as news spread of the decision.

Morro Bay to discuss budget tonight; recommendations include contracting out for fire and police service

Thu, 15 May 2008 09:58 PDT

The Morro Bay City Council will discuss its 2008-09 fiscal year budget and the results of a recent economic study at a budget workshop tonight.

The nearly 130-page report commissioned by the city council last year and released to the public this week includes several recommendations on how city officials should reorganize city operations including possibly contracting fire services with County/Cal Fire and police services with the Sheriff’s Department as a way to save money.

The workshop will be held at the Veterans Memorial Hall at 6 p.m.

UPDATE: Truck driver loses control along Cuesta Grade; wreck blocks fast lane in both directions

Thu, 15 May 2008 06:23 PDT

A big rig carrying 70,000 pounds of lettuce lost control and slid into a concrete barrier Wednesday afternoon along Highway 101 north of San Luis Obispo.

No one was injured in the wreck that happened around 4:20 p.m. when driver Ray Arauz, 57, of Oxnard, drove south on Highway 101 at the bottom of the Cuesta Grade, according to California Highway Patrol officials.

Arauz was travelling about 65 miles per hour in the center lane when he lost control of the truck which began drifting into other lanes.

Big-rig wreck blocked both directions of 101 at Cuesta Grade on Wednesday

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:07 PDT

Emergency crews are responding to the southern base of the Cuesta Grade, where a big rig has crashed and is blocking both northbound and southbound lanes, according to information on the CHP’s Web site, http://cad.chp.ca.gov.

The crash was reported at 4:12 p.m., according to the site.

The latest report from the CHP site indicates the truck is blocking the northbound fastlane of the highway and two southbound lanes. The page also indicates the truck has knocked out the center divider on the road.

Higher Cal State University fees approved for fall

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:02 PDT

The cost of attending a California State University is going up again in the fall following a decision by the 23-campus system's governing board Wednesday to authorize a 10-percent student fee hike.

Cal State's Board of Trustees voted 15-3 to raise yearly undergraduate tuition by $276. The increase means that undergraduates will pay an average of $3,797 next year - twice as much as what a CSU school cost in the fall of 2000.

The 23-campus system is under orders from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to reduce campus spending to help make up a multibillion dollar state budget deficit. Several trustees said that with the system facing a $312 million shortfall, they had to ask students and their families to shoulder some of the burden.

State parks reportedly to remain open under governor's revised budget proposal

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:31 PDT

Montana de Oro and other state parks will remain open under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s revised budget proposal, according to state Sen. Abel Maldonado’s office.

Schwarzenegger submitted a budget proposal in January that makes 10 percent, across-the-board cuts and does not raise taxes.

He included the state Department of Parks and Recreation, and named 48 parks to be closed statewide. Seven are in San Luis Obispo County, including Montaña de Oro and Morro Strand State Beach.

Monday is deadline to register to vote in June 3 election

Wed, 14 May 2008 11:21 PDT

Those who want to vote in the June 3 primary election have until Monday to register, according to county Clerk-Recorder Julie Rodewald.

Rodewald says voter registrations must be postmarked or received in her office by 5 p.m. May 19. Those who have moved, or wish to change political party, must complete a new voter registration card.

Affidavits of registration are available at post offices, city halls, libraries, banks, notary offices, and utility companies, in addition to the Clerk-Recorder’s offices in San Luis Obispo and Atascadero.

Actress Bo Derek to be guest of honor at Lenthall fundraiser

Wed, 14 May 2008 10:00 PDT

Actress Bo Derek, who achieved fame with the 1979 film “10,” will be guest of honor at a $250-a-plate fundraiser for Supervisor candidate Jerry Lenthall May 17.

Derek’s backing will mark Lenthall’s fourth celebrity endorsement of the campaign. Actor Steve Ford, ultimate fighting champion Chuck Liddell, and conservative author and pundit David Horowitz also have backed the first-term supervisor.

Though known for her occasional films, Derek also is involved in politics. She attended the Republican conventions of 2000 and 2004 and campaigned for George W. Bush, according to Wikipedia. Bush appointed her to the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Man who escaped CMC sentenced to three years

Tue, 13 May 2008 23:28 PDT

A man who escaped from the California Men's Colony during a work program was sentenced to prison again this week.

Francisco Moreno was sentenced Monday to three years behind bars for escaping from the CMC custody Dec. 11, 2007. He faced up to six years in prison for the crime, according to CMC officials.

Moreno had walked away from a community service work crew in Arroyo Grande near James Way while working with other inmates.

Two men help stop alleged assault in Atascadero

Tue, 13 May 2008 17:48 PDT

Two Atascadero residents came to the aid of a woman being assaulted, and probably kept her from being seriously harmed, according to police.

A 23-year-old woman was approached by Daniel Deleon Johnson, 21, outside her home in the 6200 block of Santa Ynez around 6:20 p.m. Monday, according to Atascadero police. Johnson allegedly struck the woman and got on top of her as she screamed for help.

Her screams were heard by Damien Levenson, 26 and Jesse Leader, 25, who were in a nearby residence. The two men confronted Johnson who ran away, but was later detained by the men until police arrived, according to Atascadero police.

High levels of bacteria found at Cayucos State Beach

Tue, 13 May 2008 17:14 PDT

County environmental health officials have posted public health warnings at Cayucos State Beach at the Studio Drive parking lot. Weekly sampling showed high bacteria levels in the water.

The signs advise beach-goers to avoid contact with the water. New water samples were taken when the advisories were posted. The signs will stay in place until a sample comes back that is within state health standards.

The county Department of Environmental Health samples 20 popular beaches in the county and tests them for several types of bacterial that can indicate unhealthful conditions.

Grand jury commends Nacimiento water project participants

Tue, 13 May 2008 17:17 PDT

The San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury has commended the five participants in the Nacimiento Water Project pipeline for efforts to fulfill the water needs of their communities.

The jury released a report Tuesday that expressed how jury members were impressed by those who planned the $178 million 45-mile long pipeline.

The jury also noted the agencies involved should frequently review their water needs. And the jury also recommends that the agencies evaluate whether the project indeed had “growth inducing” effects after its construction, as some critics have alleged.

Do you know of any local relief efforts for China earthquake victims?

Tue, 13 May 2008 16:11 PDT

Do you know about any San Luis Obispo County resident or organizations launching their own relief efforts for the victims of the major earthquake in China? The Tribune would like to know. Please e-mail reporter Stephen Curran at scurran@thetribunenews.com.