2024

Five injured in Santa Maria Courthouse bombing, suspect identified

By KAREN VELIE A 20-year-old man injured five people on Monday morning when he exploded a bomb at the Santa Maria Courthouse. All the victims were treated and have since been released by the hospital. Shortly after 8:35 a.m., Nathaniel... (Continue reading)

Wine grapes pass strawberries as SLO County’s top crop

By KAREN VELIE After four years of strawberries being San Luis Obispo County’s most valuable crop, wine grapes moved back into the top slot in 2023 based on excellent growing conditions and steady prices. Combined, wine grapes and strawberries continue... (Continue reading)

Charles Varni is not the right fit for Oceano

  Editor’s note: CalCoastNews erred when it put Adam Verdin’s name as the author, he did not ghost write the following opinion, written by Alyssa Hicks. A supporter of Charlie Varni’s, who was removed years ago as a commenter on... (Continue reading)

FBI warns of increase in hoax threats against schools, public places

By KAREN VELIE Two Nipomo High Schools were locked down last week because of a threat deputies later deemed was not credible. Earlier in the year, Arroyo Grande High School was shut down over a threat that included a gun... (Continue reading)

SLO County facility staff allegedly falsified records in teen’s death

By KAREN VELIE The mother of a 19-year-old woman who died at a San Luis Obispo County mental health facility, though no one noticed for eight to 10 hours, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court on Monday seeking... (Continue reading)

Man throws bomb outside courtroom, chaos at the Santa Maria Courthouse

Correction: The bomb was thrown outside the courtroom, not into the courtroom. By KAREN VELIE Chaos erupted at the Santa Maria Courthouse on Wednesday morning after a man threw a suspected bomb outside a courtroom. At approximately 8:35 a.m., a... (Continue reading)

Motorcyclist killed in crash in Nipomo, truck driver charged

By KAREN VELIE A 37-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a green pickup truck in Nipomo on Tuesday afternoon. The truck driver who fled the scene is in jail. Shortly after 4 p.m., Genaro CortezBeltran, 36, was driving... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly student advisor pleaded not guilty to attempted rape, burglary

By KAREN VELIE A former Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student advisor charged with attempted rape, assault and burglary pleaded not guilty on Tuesday. During the hearing, San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Rita Federman increased 25-year-old Alexis Alejandro’s bail... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo again named best in the west

By KAREN VELIE Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has been named best overall master’s-level university in the west for both public and private institutions for the second year in a row in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best... (Continue reading)

More than 6,000 PG&E customers lose power in San Luis Obispo County

By KAREN VELIE More than 6,000 PG&E customers lost power early Tuesday morning in San Luis Obispo County as the electric company performs maintenance work. Shortly before 8 a.m., PG&E shut off the power of approximately 6,000 San Luis Obispo... (Continue reading)