MATT FOUNTAIN

A year and a half after Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) announced it was seeking federal relicensing of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant—and just more than a month after an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan created an unprecedented nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant and renewed local concern over seismic safety—PG&E has […]

For a second straight year, the massive Isla Vista beach party— which caused a major stir in 2009—was successfully thwarted by the preventative measures of local government and law enforcement. On March 30, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department announced it would be stepping up patrols in the student neighborhood of Isla Vista in Goleta […]

The defense attorney for the sole defendant facing a death sentence in the Dystiny Myers kidnapping and murder trial has been dismissed. On March 23, San Luis Obispo-based attorney Raymond Allen was told by Superior Court Judge Barry LaBarbera that he didn’t meet the requirements of the court to defend a murder defendant facing capital […]

Pacific Gas & Electric customers concerned about the safety of the utility’s SmartMeters will be able to essentially turn off their new meter’s wireless component—but doing so will come at a price. Meeting a March 24 deadline set by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), PG&E filed its application to modify its controversial SmartMeter program, […]

One of the five defendants in the ongoing Dystiny Myers murder trial learned she won’t face the death penalty. At a March 17 preliminary hearing in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, prosecutors announced they will not seek capital charges against Rhonda Wisto, 47, of Nipomo, who is accused of being the leader of a […]

Upset by a recent announcement from a rookie San Luis Obispo County supervisor, some elected members of two South County advisory councils slated for dissolution spoke out before the Board of Supervisors about a proposed change in guidelines for such groups in the area. And though many community members also voiced their support for changes […]

Facing a potential $6 million cut in state funding for the 2011-12 academic year, Allan Hancock College will implement an incentive program to encourage early staff retirement. Administrative officials expect the program to save the college up to $600,000. At a special meeting on March 1, the Allan Hancock College Board of Trustees voted unanimously […]

Joni Gray, Santa Barbara County 4th District supervisor and board chair, closed her district office in Orcutt on Feb. 25, and relocated to a “more efficient” space in the Betteravia Government Center in Santa Maria. Her other district office in the Lompoc Veterans Memorial Building will remain open. Gray told the Sun she decided to […]

A three-day investigation into suspected marijuana sales at a Santa Maria high school ended with the arrests of six juveniles and one teen adult. On Feb. 10, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department began its investigation into suspected marijuana sales at Righetti High School after school officials discovered three juvenile students in possession of “large […]

A recent sweep across the Central Coast, targeting gang members suspected of living in the country illegally, culminated in 12 arrests. According to a Santa Maria Police Department press release, the investigation was carried out after individuals known to the Santa Maria Police Department’s Gang Suppression Team as active gang members were cross-checked by agents […]

In the wake of a series of raids on medical marijuana delivery services, which left the owners of those collectives with a long list of criminal charges and financial burdens, law enforcement officers have now begun contacting the collective members. Charges against three defendants in the late-2010 investigation were rejected by the District Attorney’s Office […]