Uncovered SLO


Morro Bay’s mayor accused of conflict of interest over donation

By KAREN VELIE Amid negotiations over a controversial project, Morro Bay Mayor John Headding garnered a $2,000 donation from one of the parties, an action that prompted critics to accuse the mayor of having a conflict of interest. Incumbent Mayor... (Continue reading)

Prosecutors appeal Tianna Arata case to state Supreme Court

By KAREN VELIE Prosecutors filed a petition for review with the state Supreme Court on Friday asking the justices to hear a case involving an Appellate Court opinion that San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow’s personal political opinions... (Continue reading)

Meet the donors fighting for control of the SLO County Board of Supervisors

By KAREN VELIE With a week left until election day, those with special interests and partisan objectives have donated nearly $1 million to the two candidates dueling for control of the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. The stakes... (Continue reading)

Anonymous attack ads target Pismo Beach City Council candidate

By KAREN VELIE Two anonymous attack ads targeting Pismo Beach Councilwoman Mary Ann Reiss were recently mailed to voters without the required disclosures in an apparent violation of the law. The first flyer, sent Oct. 13, chastises Reiss for voting... (Continue reading)

Eleven percent of SLO County ballots returned, who is voting early?

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County voters appear to be taking their time in returning their mid-term election ballots, with slightly more than 11% returned as of Thursday, according to numbers from a state source as the SLO County... (Continue reading)

Plunging school tests scores in SLO County, compare local school districts

By KAREN VELIE Test scores for students in San Luis Obispo County and throughout the nation plunged during the coronavirus pandemic, demonstrating the impact lockdowns had on learning, according to data California’s Education Department recently released. The percentage of children... (Continue reading)

Why would Dan Dow donate $25,000 to oppose Bruce Gibson?

By KAREN VELIE Clarification: Dan Dow donated $25,000 from his Dan Dow for District Attorney 2022 campaign account. The gloves are off in San Luis Obispo County’s District 2 supervisor race. Negative Bruce Gibson ads are flooding the airways and... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo mother seeks the public’s help to free autistic son

By KAREN VELIE A San Luis Obispo woman’s autistic son Andrew was taken by the state after she agreed to allow a conservatorship, and for the past three years the state has not permitted her to see her son in... (Continue reading)

Jury convicts Paul Flores in the murder of Kristin Smart, Ruben Flores not guilty

By KAREN VELIE A Monterey County jury on Monday found Paul Flores guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Kristin Smart in 1996. A second jury determined Ruben Flores was not guilty of helping to dispose of Smart’s body.... (Continue reading)

San Simeon manager wants residents to fund his legal defense

By KAREN VELIE The San Simeon Community Services District Board of Directors is considering having the rate payers cover another $167,773 in legal bills related to alleged conflicts of interest and mismanagement, at a cost of $800 per rate payer.... (Continue reading)