2021

Coronavirus deaths in San Luis Obispo County nearing 200

There were 95 coronavirus deaths in January in SLO County, surpassing the number of fatalities in 2020. With 17 new deaths during the past four days from COVID-19, there are now 194 locals who have lost their lives to the... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay teacher resigns amid allegations of misconduct

By KAREN VELIE Amid allegations of misconduct, Morro Bay High School chemistry teacher and girl’s swim coach Tyler Andree suddenly resigned, just two days before the start of the second semester. A 2014 San Luis Obispo High School graduate, Andree... (Continue reading)

Deputies find 15-year-old girl and her alleged pimp in SLO County

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Law enforcement personnel recently rescued a missing 15-year-old girl from Nevada who was being sex trafficked in San Luis Obispo County. Authorities also caught the girl’s alleged pimp, but then released him, citing a lack of probable... (Continue reading)

Two murder suspects arrested following altercation in Avila Beach

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff deputies arrested two murder suspects while responding to a domestic disturbance call in Avila Beach on Wednesday. Shortly after 7 p.m., a caller reported a domestic disturbance in the parking lot of the San Luis... (Continue reading)

Teen injured in the ninth shooting this year in Lompoc

By JOSH FRIEDMAN An unknown suspect shot an 18-year-old man in Lompoc Thursday morning. The teen was then airlifted to a hospital. Shortly before 11 a.m., callers reported a shooting in the area of Airport Avenue and North D Street,... (Continue reading)

Drunk driver crashes into Shandon woman, killing her

By JOSH FRIEDMAN An allegedly intoxicated wrong-way driver struck and killed 23-year-old Sabrina Lecce of Shandon woman on Highway 101 in Southern Monterey County on Tuesday. Shortly after 7 p.m., Balthazar Donato, 27, was driving northbound in the southbound lanes... (Continue reading)

Stacy Korsgaden on the fallout from the rally in Washington DC

OPINION by STACY KORSGADEN In the early 90s, I shocked my mother by confiding that I had fallen in love with a woman named Jodi. Mom immediately declared that no one would like me or do business with me, and... (Continue reading)

Conversations with coastal elites in Cayucos

Editor’s Note: The following series, “Life in Radically Gentrifying Cayucos by the Sea,” to be posted biweekly includes the notes, thoughts, and opinions of an original American voice: author Dell Franklin.  By DELL FRANKLIN I was down along the seawall... (Continue reading)

No prosecution for woman with 104 Chihuahuas

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office decided not to press charges against a woman who kept 104 full bred and mixed Chihuahuas at her home in Lompoc. Instead, the animal hoarding suspect was asked to get counseling. [Independent] Last... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles seeking 60% sewer rate increase

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The city of Paso Robles is considering raising sewer rates by approximately 60 percent over the next four years. At its meeting on Tuesday, the Paso Robles City Council will discuss multiple sewer rate hike proposals. One... (Continue reading)