2020

Unemployment rate falls spurred by local government hiring

BY CCN STAFF San Luis Obispo County’s unemployment rate dropped again in September as local governments gained approximately 1,700 jobs, the state Employment Development Department reported last week. In September, SLO County’s unemployment rate fell to 7.2 percent. That is... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo County officials spar over campaign limits

By KAREN VELIE In a 3-1 vote that led to name calling and accusations of criminal acts, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to limit campaign candidate donations to $25,000 per contributor, with Supervisor Bruce Gibson... (Continue reading)

SLO Democrat voting for Cherisse Sweeney for mayor

OPINION by MELISSA TUNNELL I am a San Luis Obispo resident and registered Democrat proudly supporting Cherisse Sweeney for mayor. I have read some of the lies being told about this candidate and cannot remain silent. I have met Mayoral... (Continue reading)

Motions for dismissal and gag order continued in Tianna Arata case

By CCN STAFF While supporters of four Black Lives Matter protesters chanted for the judge to dismiss their cases, San Luis Obispo County Court Judge Mathew Guerrero continued the hearing on a motion to dismiss and a motion for a... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles robber sentenced to 25 years to life in prison

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A judge sentenced a man convicted of robbing Pacific Premier Bank in Paso Robles to 25 years to life in prison. On Nov. 15, 2019, two masked men with handguns entered Pacific Premier Bank on 12th Street... (Continue reading)

Man died at Lopez Lake attempting to save a relative

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A 39-year-old Grover Beach man drowned in Lopez Lake after attempting to rescue a relative who appeared to be in distress while swimming, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. The county coroner’s unit has... (Continue reading)

Three men caught in Santa Barbara sting attempting to have sex with a minor

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies arrested three men last week who were caught in a sting trying to have sex with an underage girl. Deputies arrested 37-year-old Scott Garey of Santa Barbara and 24-year-old Pottanapong Phakdeeviset of Camarillo on Friday... (Continue reading)

Hearst demands payments from San Simeon CSD

By KAREN VELIE The San Simeon Community Services District Board of Directors voted unanimously last week to approve an agreement with the owners of the Hearst Ranch, which allows the district’s water treatment plant to remain temporarily on the ranch.... (Continue reading)

Man’s body found outside Paso Robles steakhouse and saloon

By KAREN VELIE A man’s body was discovered in a truck parked outside Cool Hand Luke’s in Paso Robles Wednesday morning. Shortly after 8 a.m., a 911 caller reported a man who appeared in distress in a vehicle in the... (Continue reading)

Divers find Arroyo Grande man’s body in Lopez Lake

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Search teams located the body of an Arroyo Grande man at Lopez Lake on Tuesday, a couple days after a report of a person possibly drowning in the South County reservoir. On Sunday, shortly before 4 p.m.,... (Continue reading)