CalCoastNews Contributor

Lisa Rizzo

Lisa Rizzo is a professional freelance journalist for hire. Educated at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in California, she has a Bachelors of Science degree in journalism and is a member of The Society of Professional Journalists.

Rizzo is the former evening news producer of NBC affiliated television station KSBY-TV 6. She entered the field of journalism 15 years ago and has since acquired experience in nearly all forms of media.

Currently, as a regular freelance reporter for CalCoastNews, an independent investigative online newspaper, Rizzo has covered a variety of topics that have unveiled environmental crisis, financial fraud in the military, and corruption in government.

Lisa Rizzo offers a variety of writing and producing services for individuals and business:

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Genius behind delivery of high speed “Hobbit” in SLO

By LISA RIZZO The worldwide movie premier of “The Hobbit” next week will unveil the fastest imaging in cinema history during a journey through ‘Middle-earth,’ thanks in part to technology designed and manufactured by USL, Inc. in San Luis Obispo. And, it will only be available at theaters in select major cities around the world, […]... (Continue Reading)

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Governor Brown approves whistleblower protection, military reform

By LISA RIZZO The California Military Whistleblower Protection Act, prompted by an investigation at Camp San Luis Obispo into bonus and incentive fraud among the ranks of the California National Guard, was signed into law Friday. The military reform package, Senate Bill 921 by Senator Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), gives the governor the power to appoint […]... (Continue Reading)

Air quality district internal emails expose manipulations

(Editor’s note: This is the second in a multi-part series about questionable activities of the San Luis Obispo County Air Quality Control District. Part one was Air quality district’s bloated salaries. See Alleged flaws in the study at the bottom of this story) It sounded like a good idea. Fine the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area for allowing particulate pollution... (Continue Reading)

Bronze memorial vandalized

A San Luis Obispo city-owned bronze sculpture, sentimental to the Chinese community, is damaged after being vandalized several times within the last six months. Two bronze parts of the Chinese Iron Road Pioneers statue, which sits in San Luis Obispo’s Historic Railroad District and centers a roundabout where Railroad Avenue and Osos Street intersect, were broken off and stolen and... (Continue Reading)

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Warding off water wars

People in northern San Luis Obispo County are running out of water—some faster than others. And, unless a community effort to stabilize the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin is successful, it could mean letting a judge decide who has a right to the water inside and how much. Senior Planner with the San Luis Obispo County Department of Planning and Building James... (Continue Reading)

Third person drowns at Lake Nacimiento

A third person has drowned in Lake Nacimiento in 40 days. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Lucien Mackie Langenbeck was found in 8-feet of water in the Heritage Ranch area of the lake around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. The 42-year-old man had been diving off a pontoon float secured to a dock near his Heritage Ranch home. When he failed... (Continue Reading)

San Luis Obispo triple stabbing victims named

San Luis Obispo police have identified the victims of a triple stabbing on Sunday at a birthday party on Garcia Drive. Meanwhile, the attacker remains at large. Joseph Perez, 20, Raysean Ford, 23 and a 16-year-old boy suffered stab wounds in the early morning attack. Following the initial investigation, it was not clear whether there was a single attacker or multiple suspects.... (Continue Reading)

Lindamood-Bell program grows brain

In a new study researchers found a San Luis Obispo headquartered company, Lindmood-Bell Learning Processes, helped grow gray matter in the brains of children with dyslexia using a reading intervention program. The independent study, conducted by researchers from the Center for the Study of Learning, Georgetown University Medical Center, and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center has been released online but... (Continue Reading)

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County official admits to manipulating air quality forecasts

Manipulations of air quality forecasts in the south San Luis Obispo County region caused as many as 100 days to be given “yellow,” moderate alert, rather than “green,” safe air quality, status. An official at a San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District board meeting last week admitted the air quality status in Nipomo and Oceano had been tweaked to... (Continue Reading)

George Ramos died of a heart attack

CalCoastNews editor and renowned Los Angeles Times journalist George Ramos died of a heart attack, the autopsy determined. He was 63 years old. San Luis Obispo County Coroner Investigator Jeff Nichols said the heart attack was caused by a blood clot in the organ’s right ventricle. The autopsy also found many of Ramos’ vital organs were severely damaged and compromised due... (Continue Reading)

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