Articles Tagged With ‘Central Coast’




Drug dealer admits conspiring to sell drugs on the Central Coast

By KAREN VELIE A 40-year-old man pleaded guilty on Monday to conspiring with a Santa Maria man to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin on the Central Coast, according to federal prosecutors. From Oct. 2016 through Jan. 2017, Jose... (Continue reading)

Central Coast man found guilty in fentanyl death

By KAREN VELIE A jury found a Central Coast man guilty on Friday of aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the death of a fellow inmate at a Santa Barbara County jail and in the serious... (Continue reading)

Foundation awards grants to 16 Central Coast restaurants

By KAREN VELIE Christmas came early for 16 Central Coast restaurant owners. The California Restaurant Foundation  awarded $5,000 grants to three independently owned restaurants in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties and 11 in Ventura County. SLO County... (Continue reading)

Central Coast sailor pleads guilty to selling secrets to China

By KAREN VELIE A U.S.Navy sailor stationed on the Central Coast pleaded guilty on Tuesday to transmitting sensitive information to a Chinese intelligence officer in exchange for bribery payments, according to the U.S, Department of Justice. Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao,... (Continue reading)

Central Coast district attorney charges massage parlor owners with pimping

By KAREN VELIE Two Central Coast massage parlor owners were arrested on felony pimping charges after an investigation by the Ventura County Human Trafficking Task Force, the District Attorney’s Office announce Monday. Prosecutors charged 47-year-old Shuzhi Fan and 43-year-old Qiuju... (Continue reading)

Another Central Coast medical provider to pay Medi-Cal fraud settlement

By KAREN VELIE A California health care district that operates multiple health care providers on the Central Coast has agreed to pay $5 million to settle allegations that they broke federal and California laws by submitting false claims to Medi-Cal... (Continue reading)

Hurricane Hilary could bring rain to California’s Central Coast

By KAREN VELIE A hurricane traveling up the coastline of Mexico could bring rain to the Central Coast this weekend. Early Thursday morning, Tropical Storm Hilary became Hurricane Hilary. It is projected to become a Category 3 hurricane before it... (Continue reading)

Medi-Cal warns Central Coast residents they could lose coverage

By KAREN VELIE Thousands of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County residents could lose their Medi-Cal coverage this year because of a paperwork requirement. In 2020, because of COVID, the federal government enacted a policy that ensured people on... (Continue reading)

Lawsuit accuses Central Coast retailer of trafficking cannabis

By KAREN VELIE After years of whispered allegations, a recently filed lawsuit accuses the owner of five cannabis retail stores in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties of being the largest, or one of the largest, black marketeers of... (Continue reading)

Newsom awards millions to help Central Coast homeless move into housing

By KAREN VELIE Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday plans to provide Central Coast communities with more than $27 million to help people move out of homeless encampments and into housing. In this latest round of funding to combat homelessness, Newsom... (Continue reading)