Daily Briefs


Fact checking Paso Robles City Manager Ty Lewis’ legal claim

By KAREN VELIE Paso Robles City Manager Ty Lewis filed a claim against the city seeking $2,275,000 for loss of employment and personal injury based on alleged actions of Councilman Chris Bausch. In his Aug. 14 claim, Lewis accuses Bausch... (Continue reading)

Nearly 2,000 PG&E customers lose power in San Luis Obispo County

By KAREN VELIE Nearly 2,000 PG&E customers lost power in San Luis Obispo County on Monday evening. At 7;29 p.m., 1,722 PG&E customers lost power from east Atascadero to Creston. PG&E estimates the power will be restored by 4 a.m.... (Continue reading)

Pismo Beach police arrest man for brandishing imitation firearms

By KAREN VELIE Pismo Beach police officers arrested a 45-year-old who was brandishing an imitation firearm from a vehicle in Shell Beach on Sunday. Shortly after noon, callers reported a man brandishing a weapon. Officers quickly located the suspect’s vehicle... (Continue reading)

Vice presidential nominee Tim Walz campaigns in Santa Barbara County

By KAREN VELIE Vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ running mate, stopped Sunday in Santa Barbara County as part of his fundraising tour across the West Coast. Walz landed at the Santa Barbara Airport at about 5 p.m. He... (Continue reading)

Firefighters rescue hiker who fell 30 feet in Cambria

By KAREN VELIE Firefighters rescued a hiker who fell 30 feet off a cliff at the Cambria’s Fiscalini Ranch Preserve on Sunday. Shortly before 3 p.m., a caller reported the hiker had fallen from the cliff. Multiple agencies, including Cal... (Continue reading)

Trial begins for Atascadero man accused of raping underage girls

By KAREN VELIE A trial started last week for Nate Abate, an Atascadero man accused of raping multiple underage girls, while his friend and alleged accomplice remains on the run. The trial started Friday with opening statements. Prosecutors charged Abate,... (Continue reading)

Young man killed in crash in rural San Luis Obispo

By KAREN VELIE A 20-year-old man was killed in a single vehicle crash in rural San Luis Obispo on Saturday morning, according to the CHP. Shortly after 11 a.m., Carlos Cordon Rios, 21, was headed southbound on O’Connor Way north... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria facing $21 million budget deficit

By KAREN VELIE With costs outpacing revenues, Santa Maria is struggling with a $21 million budget deficit. The city is considering raising taxes and cutting expenditures. The primary cost driver is increased salary and benefits for city staff, according to... (Continue reading)

Nearly 3,000 PG&E customers lose power in Atascadero, Templeton

By KAREN VELIE Nearly 3,000 PG&E customers lost power in Atascadero and Templeton on Friday morning. At 5.26 a.m., 2,915 PG&E customers lost power from Highway 41 in Atascadero to just south of Vineyard Drive in Templeton. Witnesses report hearing... (Continue reading)

Templeton CHP seeks help finding highway vandal

By KAREN VELIE The Templeton California Highway Patrol is seeking the public’s help in finding the vandal or vandals who splatter paint on Highway 46 in the Vineyard Drive area. Officers are seeking information on the vandal who tossed paint... (Continue reading)