2021

Fire destroys building in Atascadero

By JOSH FRIEDMAN An outbuilding in Atascadero caught fire Wednesday morning, resulting in a plume of smoke that was visible from Highway 101. Callers reported the fire burning at 8505 Coromar Avenue at about 7 a.m. The blaze scorched a... (Continue reading)

Charges dropped against former SLO officer who violated shut-down rules

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has dropped its criminal case against a former San Luis Obispo police sergeant whom prosecutors accused of violating coronavirus health orders by operating his wine bar in Orcutt. Kurt Hixenbaugh,... (Continue reading)

Excessive heat and fire danger warnings for parts of SLO County

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for parts of San Luis Obispo County spanning Wednesday morning through Friday evening. Dangerously hot conditions are expected in SLO County’s interior valleys and mountains. The heat... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande’s John Spencer celebrates 50 years in the grocery business

By KAREN VELIE Central Coast native John Spencer, the founder of Spencer’s Fresh Markets, celebrates 50 years in the grocery business on Tuesday. In recognition of Spencer’s many contributions, Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham awarded him a resolution on behalf of the... (Continue reading)

SLO giving $20 gift cards to people who pledge to shop locally

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The city of San Luis Obispo and the SLO Chamber of Commerce are launching a program Tuesday in which community members who take a pledge to support local businesses can receive a $20 gift card. Up to... (Continue reading)

California’s war against our neighborhoods

T. Keith Gurnee

OPINION by T. KEITH GURNEE California’s neighborhoods and the cities that harbor them are under mounting attacks by its Legislature that’s determined to pass a spate of ill-conceived bills that will change our neighborhoods forever. If bills like SB 9,... (Continue reading)

New coronavirus cases plummet in SLO and neighboring counties

Coronavirus case rates continue to plummet with almost 60% of Californians having received at least one vaccine dose. Currently, 46% of residents are fully vaccinated. Over the past seven days, San Luis Obispo and neighboring counties have reported similar new... (Continue reading)

SLO man found sleeping in a car with replica gun and meth

By JOSH FRIEDMAN San Luis Obispo police officers arrested a man who was found sleeping inside a vehicle Sunday morning allegedly with a replica handgun on his lap and methamphetamine inside the car. Shortly before 8 a.m., a 911 caller... (Continue reading)

What you should know about changes to mask rules in SLO County

San Luis Obispo County reopens its economy on Tuesday, which will allow most businesses to operate at full capacity and for fully vaccinated people to discard their masks aside from a few situations. There are five exceptions to California’s new... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande withdraws from regional recycled water project

By KAREN VELIE The Arroyo Grande City Council voted unanimously on June 8 to back out of Central Coast Blue, a regional recycled water project set to bring a reliable water source to the Five Cities area, unless their demands... (Continue reading)