Ventura County ex-Sheriff loses supplemental pension lawsuit
A Ventura County judge has denied former Sheriff Bob Brooks’ request for a $75,000 supplement to his existing $283,000-per-year pension.
Chevron gets SLO City Council approval for Tank Farm project
Chevron’s massive Tank Farm Road remediation and commercial project in San Luis Obispo took a big step forward on Sept. 2 as the City Council unanimously approved the final environmental impact report for the 332-acre site. The City Council also approved several amendments to the airport area specific plan. The approvals pave the way for Read More →
28 tri-county firms rank on 2014 edition of Inc. 5000
Twenty-eight firms based in the Tri-Counties made the 2014 edition of Inc. magazine’s ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. This year’s ranking was based on revenue growth between 2010 and 2013. PackIt, a company that makes bags with freezable gel in the linings that keep food and drinks cold for up to Read More →
Atara Biotherapeutics angles for $92M, but jobs are scarce
Atara is among a new breed of “virtual” biotech startups. Such firms operate with barebones staff and outsource research and manufacturing operations to contract organizations. They are becoming increasingly common as investors seek to mitigate the huge risks of bringing drugs to market, a process that can cost as much as $1.8 billion, according to industry estimates.
Firms shape up for success with workplace wellness programs, perks
At the San Luis Obispo headquarters for international software company Mindbody, employees can break away for noontime yoga or retreat to one of the building’s downstairs spa rooms for a massage or facial. Amid high ceilings, colorful beanbag chairs and exercise balls, employees at Mindbody are working in an atmosphere that’s anything but the Read More →
After Ventura County court battle, pension tensions endure
For most of the summer, Ventura County was at the heart of a statewide debate over public-sector pensions. Reformers spent tens of thousands of dollars on a proposed referendum to change Ventura County’s public employee retirement system from a defined-benefit system to a 401(k)-style system. On Aug. 4, the battle ended when a judge struck Read More →
Cabbies hail help from Sacramento: Bills target Uber, Lyft
Two pending bills in the state Senate could significantly change the competitive landscape between booming ridesharing startups such as Lyft and Uber and the flagging taxi-cab industry in California.
