July, 2015

July storm sets SLO County records, knocks out power

Record rainfall totals and power outages occurred across San Luis Obispo County over the weekend as rare July thunderstorms soaked the Central Coast. Paso Robles accumulated the most rainfall in the county, totalling 3.55 inches by Sunday evening, PG&E’s John... (Continue reading)

Farm workers file lawsuit against Abel Maldonado

Several farm workers filed a class action lawsuit Wednesday that says former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado and his family failed to pay overtime wages, reimbursed for expenses and provided meal and rest periods to their employees. [Tribune] San Luis... (Continue reading)

SLO man dies after Cayucos paragliding crash

A 55-year-old San Luis Obispo man died after a paragliding accident Friday afternoon in Cayucos. Shortly after 1 p.m., the man crash landed in an open field east of Highway 1 and 1,200 yards south of the Cal Fire station... (Continue reading)

Boy, formerly of Goleta, beat to death over birthday cake

A 9-year-old boy paid with his life for eating birthday cake that was supposed to go to the 2-year-old daughter of his mother’s boyfriend. [Chicago Tribune] Oriana Iris Garcia, 26, took her son Jack Gacia out of elementary school in... (Continue reading)

South County billing dispute erupts with allegation of racism

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Amid a discussion on a multi-month billing dispute that is pitting South County cities Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach against the Oceano Community Services District, an elected official stormed out of a board meeting, alleging she was... (Continue reading)

Trial ruled too tall a task for alleged Atascadero child snatcher

A woman accused of abducting a 4-year-old boy from an Atascadero homeless shelter will stay in a mental hospital, rather than standing trial for her alleged crimes. [Tribune] Annette Hale, 56, allegedly kidnapped a then-4-year-old Atascadero boy in August 2011.... (Continue reading)

Man survives plunge into SLO meat grinder

A worker at a wholesale grocer in San Luis Obispo almost lost his life inside a meat grinder Thursday, but a co-worker came to the rescue. [Tribune] At about 2 p.m., the worker, who is described as a man in... (Continue reading)

Haggen laying off dozens of workers, union filing grievances

By KAREN VELIE Haggen, a Washington-based chain of grocery stores that recently purchased 83 new stores in California, has laid off dozens of Central Coast workers in the past few days while other employees were moved from full-time to part-time... (Continue reading)

Motorcyclist killed in Templeton crash

An Arizona man died Thursday morning after being ejected from a motorcycle that collided with a semi-truck on Highway 46 near Vineyard Drive in Templeton. Shortly after 10 a.m., the semi-truck, which was headed west on Highway 46, slowed to... (Continue reading)

APCD loses another round on dust rule

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution District (APCD) lost another round Wednesday when the court sided with Friends of the Oceano Dunes and vacated a previous order that supported the dust rule. In Nov. 2011, the... (Continue reading)