Daily Briefs


SLO County unemployment drops to lowest level in nearly a year

By KAREN VELIE Hiring in the hospitality industry in April helped drop San Luis Obispo County’s unemployment rate to its lowest level in nearly a year, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday. SLO County’s jobless rate was 3.8% in... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay City Council votes in controversial flag ordinance

By KAREN VELIE The Morro Bay City Council voted Tuesday for a new flagpole ordinance that permits only flying the United States, California or the City of Morro Bay flags at City Hall. In 2022, the council voted to allow... (Continue reading)

Sword wielding man starts fire while fleeing Santa Barbara County deputies

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Authorities arrested a man armed with a sword who allegedly started a brush fire while fleeing Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday evening. Shortly after 5 p.m., a witness reported a suspect exhibiting odd behavior in... (Continue reading)

Mother and daughter arrested for embezzling more than $550,000 from Carpinteria business

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday arrested a mother and daughter duo who allegedly embezzled more than $550,000 from a Carpinteria financial services business over a a period of nearly 20 years. In February, detectives began... (Continue reading)

California approves State Farm’s 17% home insurance rate hike

By KAREN VELIE Starting next month, State Farm can raise homeowner and other insurance rates by 17%. A judge ruled Monday that State Farm provided evidence of “extraordinary financial distress” following the Los Angeles-area wildfires. State Farm, the state’s largest... (Continue reading)

Poachers charged with road hunting in rural Paso Robles

By KAREN VELIE As part of a crackdown on poaching, California Fish and Wildlife officers arrested multiple people for shooting at wild animals from vehicles in rural Paso Robles. Several weeks ago, a wildlife officer on patrol pulled over a... (Continue reading)

Goleta coach arrested for child sex crimes, deputies seeking witnesses

By KAREN VELIE Deputies recently arrested a Goleta man for child sex crimes and are asking the public to help them identify additional survivors. Last month, detectives launched an investigation into lewd images of children and identified the suspect as... (Continue reading)

Central Coast Planned Parenthood workers vote to strike

By KAREN VELIE Healthcare workers at Planned Parenthood California Central Coast voted to authorize a strike over alleged unfair labor practices and over refusals to address a short-staffing crisis. The workers overwhelmingly approved the strike with a 100% vote following... (Continue reading)

Newsom wants California cities to ban homeless encampments

By KAREN VELIE California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently provided a template for an ordinance for cities and counties to adopt to help local officials put an end to the many homeless encampments that have proliferated throughout the state. Newsom directed... (Continue reading)

Two people injured in three-vehicle crash in Creston

Correction: The reports of two people being killed were incorrect. By KAREN VELIE Two people were injured in a three vehicle crash in rural Creston on Sunday morning. At 10 a.m., a caller reported the crash near the intersection of... (Continue reading)