Daily Briefs


Elon Musk’s X files suit against California election deepfake law

By KAREN VELIE Elon Musk’s X filed a lawsuit Thursday in federal court against a new California law regarding AI-generated, deceptive election content, claiming that the law is an unconstitutional insult to free speech. The suit argues the law, “Defending... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay moves forward with attempt to block battery storage facility

By KAREN VELIE The Morro Bay City Council on Tuesday voted 4-0 to direct staff to construct an urgency ordinance on a potential Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) project, with Councilwoman Jen Ford recusing herself. The council plans to vote... (Continue reading)

LAFCO signs off on huge Nipomo housing project, Paulding opposed

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County Local Agency Formation Commission voted 6-1 on Thursday to approve the annexation of a large housing project into the Nipomo Community Services District with San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Jimmy Paulding dissenting.... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo County’s unemployment rate fails to show lost jobs

By KAREN VELIE In the past two months, there are 600 fewer people employed in San Luis Obispo County. At the same time, unemployment numbers have dropped because of a declining workforce, the state Employment Development Department announced Friday. Prior... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles man seriously injured in single vehicle crash

By KAREN VELIE A 61-year-old Paso Robles man suffered major injuries in a single vehicle crash on Wednesday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol. Shortly after 4 p.m., Danny Mathews was headed eastbound on Creston Road near Creston Ridge... (Continue reading)

Lompoc police arrest stabbing suspect, $2 million bail

By KAREN VELIE Lompoc police arrested a man on Wednesday afternoon who is suspected of a brutal stabbing last week. On Nov. 8, a caller reported a stabbing on V Street. Officers arrived to find a man with multiple stab... (Continue reading)

Traffic stop derails kidnapping in Montecito

By KAREN VELIE A deputy conducting a traffic stop in Montecito derailed a kidnapping in progress on Tuesday evening. Shortly before 11 p.m., a deputy on patrol in the area of Highway 101 near Olive Mill Road pulled over an... (Continue reading)

Four people arrested for faking bear attacks

By KAREN VELIE Detectives arrested four people for allegedly faking bear attacks on vehicles and then defrauding insurance companies out of more than $140,000. In what has been dubbed Operation Bear Claw, California Department of Insurance investigators looked into a... (Continue reading)

Victims of Atascadero rapist speak out, want maximum sentence

By KAREN VELIE Atascadero rapist Nate Abate was in court on Tuesday for what was initially scheduled to be a sentencing hearing. Instead, woman who have accused Abate of sexual assault provided victim statements to the court, and asked the... (Continue reading)

Car veers off highway, hits Tesla sign in San Luis Obispo

By KAREN VELIE A car veered off Highway 101 and landed on a Tesla sign in San Luis Obispo, leaving one person with moderate injuries on Wednesday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. Shortly before 7 a.m., the silver... (Continue reading)