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SLO County gas prices drop slightly, find the lowest prices

Written on 16 Oct, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By KAREN VELIE While the national average price of gas remains unchanged, the price of gas in California and San Luis Obispo County has dropped significantly. At $6.31 a gallon, the average price of gas in SLO County is 23... (Continue reading)

Santa Barbara County to pay $28 million settlement for billing issues

Written on 15 Oct, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 6 comments

By KAREN VELIE Santa Barbara County administrators agreed to settle a Department of Justice complaint over improper billing regarding low-income mental health patients, amounting to $28 million, according to an Oct. 11 press release. In its complaint, the Department of... (Continue reading)

California offers tax credits for marijuana business expenses

Written on 15 Oct, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 5 comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Beginning next year, the state of California will allow cannabis business owners to receive tax credits for company expenses. Federal law prohibits tax deductions for marijuana business expenses because cannabis sales remain illegal federally. Many states are... (Continue reading)

Mexican Mafia-linked Central Coast gang member sentenced

Written on 14 Oct, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 4 comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A federal judge on Thursday sentenced a high-ranking member of an Oxnard-based gang to more than 13 years in prison for attempting to secure control of drug trafficking in Ventura County, as well as for extorting money... (Continue reading)

Trash, drug use and defecation outside the SLO Train Museum

Written on 14 Oct, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 21 comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Business owners and local residents are expressing frustration over a homeless encampment that has sprung up in the parking lot by the San Luis Obispo Train Museum. Individuals have been camping in the parking lot close to... (Continue reading)

Juror on Kristin Smart murder case talks with priest, dismissed

Written on 13 Oct, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 4 comments

By KAREN VELIE The judge in the Kristin Smart murder case dismissed a juror for seeking spiritual guidance about the case from his priest, and then ordered Ruben Flores’ jury to start their deliberations over with a new juror. A... (Continue reading)

Public awaits decision in Kristin Smart murder case, acquittal or conviction

Written on 12 Oct, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By KAREN VELIE After a five-day break, jurors in the Kristin Smart murder trial will resume deliberations on Thursday, as members of the public and the victim’s family await a verdict. Deliberations began last week, with the juries for both... (Continue reading)

Suspect in murder of elderly man in Santa Ynez captured

Written on 12 Oct, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The man who had been on the loose for several days following the murder of an elderly person in Santa Ynez was caught and arrested in Santa Cruz on Tuesday. Rylen Quinn Svane-Morris, 26, of Lancaster is... (Continue reading)

Santa Barbara County deputy admits to sexually assaulting inmates

Written on 11 Oct, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 4 comments

By KAREN VELIE A Santa Barbara County custody deputy pled guilty to charges of forced oral copulation and sexual activity with an inmate, the District Attorneys Office announced Tuesday. In Aug. 2017, Salvador Vargas, 36, was transporting a female inmate... (Continue reading)

Santa Barbara man sentenced to prison for running Ponzi scheme

Written on 11 Oct, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 2 comments

By KAREN VELIE A federal judge sentenced a Santa Barbara man who stole approxamtly $14 million from victims in an eight-year-long Ponzi scheme, failed to pay over $3 million in taxes and hid money in a bank accounts in Monaco... (Continue reading)