Political Watch 9-24

Getting a college education just got a lot more affordable. On Sept. 17, the House voted 253 to 170 to pass H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA). The bill will reform the federal student loan system, saving taxpayers $87 billion and directing $10 billion of those savings back to the U.S. […]

MONDAY, SEPT. 28 • The Nipomo Community Advisory Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Nipomo Community Services District Headquarters, 148 S. Wilson St., Nipomo. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3O • The City of Santa Maria Families for the First Decade Project, a group of individuals and agencies who organize programs for the Abel […]

With 35.5 million Americans suffering from hunger—33 percent of them children, and 125,000 of them local—we need a Superman. We can’t wait on him forever, though. So, in the meantime, Macy’s will come to the rescue by working to end domestic hunger.   Macy’s, the mega-chain known for its Thanksgiving parade, will be partnering with […]

Homelessness is a problem every city deals with. There are countless groups and nonprofits around the country that serve a needy population by providing shelter, food, and other amenities to people who literally have nothing.   And there are other groups that fight the problem from the other end, by aiming to prevent homelessness in […]

Santa Maria’s high schools showed steady gains in language and math proficiency over the past year, while its elementary schools experienced more varied results, according to data released by the California Department of Education on Sept. 16.   The state’s Growth Academic Performance Index charted performance from 2008 based on annual assessment tests: the Standardized […]

In the Sun’s recent Best Of issue, the runner up for Best Massage Therapist was misidentified. The honor should have gone to Jainine Evers.   News Briefs is compiled by Sun staffers from staff reporting and local and national media. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.

On Sept. 19, residents up and down the Central Coast celebrated the 25th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day by collecting more than two tons of trash and recyclables, according to an announcement from the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department.   A total of 687 volunteers cleaned 23 beaches and creeks in a three-hour period, […]

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting 1 in 6 men, according to research from the Prostate Cancer Foundation.   In light of those statistics, Santa Maria’s Marian Medical Center is offering free prostate cancer screenings to men ages 50 to 80, regardless of medical coverage. The screenings will be held […]

Responding to a recent escalation in gang violence in the Newlove area of Santa Maria, city and law enforcement officials planned to turn a monthly community meeting scheduled for Sept. 23 into a public forum on crime prevention and mitigation.   Over the last month and a half, the area has been the site of […]

In an effort to balance the county’s budget, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved at its Sept. 15 meeting a retirement incentive program that would provide credit for more years of work time to eligible county employees.   According to the ordinance, all county employees who reach age 60 on or prior to […]

A Santa Barbara County Superior Court jury found 24-year-old Ashley Johnigan—the woman accused of causing the 2008 crash that claimed the life of District Attorney investigator Laura Cleaves—guilty of second-degree murder and driving under the influence.   Johnigan’s sentencing is set for Oct. 15. She faces 15 years to life in prison, according to officials […]