Daily Briefs


FBI warns about sextortion schemes targeting minors

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The FBI is warning about a significant increase in sexual extortion, or sextortion, schemes targeting minors, with a subsequent rise in cases leading to suicide. Children who use online gaming platforms, gaming consoles, live-streaming or video platforms,... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria woman pleads guilty to COVID-19 insurance fraud

By KAREN VELIE A 51-year-old Santa Maria woman and her 30-year-old daughter pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit mail fraud for submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) in the names of inmates, U.S.... (Continue reading)

Train cars catch on fire in Grover Beach

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Multiple railway cars caught on fire in Grover Beach Monday evening. Shortly before 6 p.m., a caller reported a blaze burning among parked train cars near the intersection of Newport Avenue and Front Street, according to the... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles police catch DUI suspect with stolen gun

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Paso Robles police officers arrested a DUI suspect whom they found with a stolen firearm early Sunday morning.  Shortly before 3 a.m., a police officer stopped the driver of a 2016 Jeep for driving without headlights on.... (Continue reading)

SLO County gas prices declining, find the best prices

By KAREN VELIE Amid a slight decline in crude oil prices, the average price for a gallon of gas in San Luis Obispo County dropped nine cents during the past week to $4,98, according to figures from AAA. In California,... (Continue reading)

Deputy shoots, kills suspect in Santa Maria

By KAREN VELIE A deputy shot and killed a suspect during a domestic dispute in Santa Maria on Saturday. Shortly after 5 p.m., a caller reported a family member had brandished a gun during an argument. The other family members... (Continue reading)

Pedestrian struck and killed near Orcutt

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A driver struck and killed a pedestrian on Highway 1 south of Orcutt Saturday evening. Shortly after 5 p.m., the driver’s sedan hit a man walking on southbound Highway 1 south of Highway 135, according to the... (Continue reading)

Shots fired at storage facility in Paso Robles narrowly missed occupants

By KAREN VELIE A gunman fired multiple rounds at a storage facility in Paso Robles last week, with shots narrowly missing several occupants. Shortly before midnight on Jan. 5, a shooter fired multiple rounds at North Paso Mini Storage, located... (Continue reading)

Supreme Court to hear case on homeless encampment sweep bans

By KAREN VELIE The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Friday to look at whether local governments can enforce homeless encampments bans or if the bans amount to unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment. A day earlier, the Ninth Circuit Court of... (Continue reading)

Kelly-Moore Paints closes stores in Paso Robles, SLO

By KAREN VELIE Kelly-Moore Paints announced Friday it has closed all of it retail locations – including stores in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria – effective immediately. The California-based firm is laying off about 700 employees at... (Continue reading)