Suspect arrested for raping teen near bike path
By KAREN VELIE Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 27-year-old man on Monday for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl at knifepoint near a bike path in Carpinteria in March 2025. Following the rape, the victim told detectives she was walking home when an unknown suspect approached her and allegedly sexually...
Guilty of election fraud, Powell plans to file more lawsuits
By KAREN VELIE Shortly after a San Luis Obispo County jury found a woman guilty of election fraud, she released a statement saying she plans to focus on filing lawsuit against those involved in her criminal case. Guilty of nine counts – eight felonies and one misdemeanor – Gaea Powell...
Supreme Court denies SLO attorney’s request to resign with charges pending
Editor’s note: CalCoastNews is referring to developer Ryan Petetit, who changed his name to Ryan Wright during the case, as Ryan Petetit-Wright. By KAREN VELIE The California Supreme Court ruled that former San Luis Obispo attorney John Belsher cannot avoid disciplinary actions by resigning with charges pending, according to the...
SLO County woman guilty of 9 election fraud charges
By KAREN VELIE A San Luis Obispo County jury on Monday found Gaea Powell guilty of nine counts – eight felonies and one misdemeanor – for election fraud committed during the 2022 and 2024 Arroyo Grande mayoral races. Powell is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 19. SLO County Superior Court...
More than 1,100 PG&E customers without power in SLO, Monterey Counties
By KAREN VELIE More than 1,100 PG&E customers in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties are without power on Monday afternoon. Shortly before 1 p.m., 1,121 PG&E customers near Lake Nacimiento, Oak Shores and the San Antonio Recreation Area lost power. PG&E estimates the power will be back on by...
Offshore wind proponents offer smoke and mirrors
OPINION by MANDY DAVIS Did you know that hype can be used as a verb or a noun? Here are a couple of definitions and examples of appropriate use. Hype as a verb – “To publicize or promote especially by extravagant, inflated or misleading claims.” For example, local politicians hype...
Second person shot in Santa Maria in 24-hour span
By JOSH FRIEDMAN For the second time within a span of 24 hours, a gunman shot and wounded a victim in Santa Maria. Shortly after 8 p.m. on Saturday, a caller reported hearing gunshots on the 700 block of South Western Avenue. Officers then found a 40-year-old man who suffered...
