May, 2015

Democrats losing membership in SLO County

By JOSH FRIEDMAN and KAREN VELIE As the Republican Party loses ground in California and risks losing statewide competitiveness, it is the Democratic Party that is suffering the greater erosion in San Luis Obispo County. Since 2009, the Democratic Party... (Continue reading)

Obama ordering restrictions on police militarization

U.S. President Barack Obama plans to issue an order Monday banning federal authorities from providing certain types of military-style equipment to local police departments. [New York Times] Obama is expected to prohibit police departments from using federal funds to acquire... (Continue reading)

More than 300 California dentists suspected of Medicaid abuse

A federal audit of dental bills covered by Medicaid found that 329 dentists in California engaged in questionable billing practices. [Contra Costa Times] The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services audit also identified six orthodontists in California with questionable... (Continue reading)

Hiker airlifted from Bishop Peak in SLO

A California Highway Patrol helicopter airlifted a 28-year-old man from Bishop Peak Sunday evening after the hiker reportedly broke his femur. [Tribune] Around 5:42 p.m., several agencies responded to Bishop Peak to assist the injured hiker who was halfway up... (Continue reading)

Salinas mothers found guilty of torturing girl

A Monterey County jury found two Salinas women guilty Friday of torturing, starving, and chaining an 8-year-old girl inside their home. [Monterey Herald] In March 2014, Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies discovered the 8-year-old girl who weighed just 40 pounds and... (Continue reading)

Probation department seeking low sentence for Gearhart

By KAREN VELIE With just two weeks until Kelly Gearhart’s sentencing hearing, his probation officer and federal prosecutors are disagreeing over the number of the defendant’s victims, a fact that partially determines sentencing guidelines. While both sides agree on most... (Continue reading)

SLO County Supervisors should vote based on facts, not politics

Open letter to the San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors by Butch Pope Regarding the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meeting on the Las Pilitas Quarry, it was good to see that some of our supervisors actually read... (Continue reading)

3 juveniles arrested for armed robbery spree

Santa Maria police arrested three juveniles for committing a string of armed robberies in San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria on Thursday. [KSBY] Early Thursday morning, police said victims of multiple armed robberies provided similar descriptions of the... (Continue reading)

Central Coast company fraud against Veterans Administration

A Santa Maria company paid a $1 million settlement and agreed to close down on May 11 after its owner was accused of falsely claiming the company was a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) in order to obtain landscaping and cemetery... (Continue reading)

Stills, Cray complete Mid-State Fair lineup

By COLIN JONES Stephen Stills and Robert Cray will co-headline the final open date at the California Mid-State Fair, CalCoastNews has learned. The concert will take place in the Chumash Grandstand Arena on Thursday, July 30 at 7:30pm. Ticket prices... (Continue reading)