Daily Briefs


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)

Lompoc man arrested for shooting at man in Buellton

By KAREN VELIE Santa Barbara County deputies arrested a Lompoc man who allegedly shot multiple times at a man in Buellton on Nov. 8. Shortly before 9 p.m., deputies responded to Valley Station Drive in Buellton for a report of... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly offers emotional services for students upset over election

By KAREN VELIE Concerned that university students at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo would need help coping with the presidential election, Cal Poly offered counseling and psychological services. At least one teacher canceled classes to allow students time to process.... (Continue reading)

Driver critically injured in wrong-way crash in Orcutt

By KAREN VELIE A wrong-way driver suffered critical injuries in a crash on Highway 135 in Orcutt on Monday, according to the CHP. Shortly before 10 p.m., a caller reported a two-car collision in the northbound lanes of Highway 135... (Continue reading)