Santa Maria drug dealer sentenced to 15 years in prison
By KAREN VELIE A Santa Maria drug dealer, gang member and convicted violent felon was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine and illegally possessing dozens of rounds of ammunition, including some found inside a “ghost gun.” Rodolfo Uriarte, 41, pleaded guilty on Feb. 28 to...
San Luis Obispo switches to single vote election system
By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo City Council voted 5-0 on Tuesday to switch to a single vote system for council elections. Instead of voting for two council candidates to fill two seats, in future elections residents will vote for only one council candidate. The new electoral system does...
Grover Beach police warn of community market scam
By KAREN VELIE The Grover Beach Police Department is warning the public of a scam in which con artists want people to sign up and pay for participation in a community market. As part of the scam, the cons post information on social media regarding sign-ups for an alleged community...
Repeat Madonna Inn burglary suspect arrested in San Luis Obispo
By KAREN VELIE A parolee suspected of burglarizing and vandalizing the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo mutiple times over the past few weeks is in jail with his bail set at $100,000. On Tuesday afternoon, an officer was searching for the suspected thief, 45-year-old Randy Picco. The suspect attempted...
Paso Robles City Manager back after $2.25 million claim denied
By KAREN VELIE Following two separate attempts over four months to get a financial settlement from the city, Paso Robles City Manager Ty Lewis plans to return to work on Wednesday. During the first months of 2024, Lewis battled with a group of residents working to end the paid parking...
Suspect flees Santa Barbara County deputies, trapped by the surf
By KAREN VELIE A Santa Barbara County man is in custody for battery after he attempted to flee into the ocean to avoid arrest on Monday. Shortly after 11 p.m., a caller reported a man disturbing the peace and threatening victims. Deputies learned the suspect had punched a victim in...
Candidate for this week’s dumbest criminal in Pismo Beach
By KAREN VELIE Pismo Beach officers arrested a wanted woman transporting a large amount of methamphetamine in a vehicle illegally parked early Saturday morning, now a candidate for this week’s dumbest criminal. Shortly before midnight, a Pismo Beach office contacted the 42-year-old occupant of a vehicle parked in a no...
