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SLO County cities get failing grades for tobacco control

Written on 27 Jan, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 14 comments

By KAREN VELIE Most San Luis Obispo County cities earned failing grades for their tobacco control measures, including allowing the sale of flavored tobacco products, according to a report by the American Lung Association. In recent years, local lawmakers have... (Continue reading)

Fire destroys mobile home near Atascadero

Written on 26 Jan, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By KAREN VELIE A fire completely destroyed a mobile home near Atascadero on Tuesday, according to Cal Fire. Shortly after 11 a.m., a caller reported a fire at a home on Homestead Road near Highway 41. Cal Fire and Atascadero... (Continue reading)

SLO County’s COVID-19 surge continues, five new deaths

Written on 25 Jan, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments

By KAREN VELIE Spurred by the Omicron  variant, San Luis Obispo County’s COVID-19 surge continues with an all-time high of 590 average daily cases and five new deaths reported on Tuesday, according to health officials. During the past four days,... (Continue reading)

SLO County health director resigning after three years

Written on 25 Jan, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 6 comments

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Health Agency Director Richard “Michael” Hill resigned this week after learning he had been selected from a pool of 40 candidates to run the health department in Douglas County, Colo. Hired in May... (Continue reading)

SLO County Sheriff’s Office employee loses gun, felon finds it

Written on 25 Jan, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 24 comments

By KAREN VELIE A San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office employee left his handgun in a public bathroom at the county jail on Monday morning, after which it was promptly stolen. Before the employee realized he had left his gun... (Continue reading)

SLO climate change activist Heidi Harmon’s electric car calamity

Written on 24 Jan, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 50 comments

By KAREN VELIE Former San Luis Obispo mayor and climate change activist Heidi Harmon attempted to “do the right thing,” and travel to a rally in San Francisco in an electric car. After multiple attempts to find a working charging... (Continue reading)

California again allowing early release of violent criminals

Written on 23 Jan, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 19 comments

By KAREN VELIE After a temporary halt, a California judge is allowing new regulations that permit two-strike offenders to serve just one-third of their prison sentences, including inmates with serious and violent criminal histories. In December, Sacramento Superior Court Judge... (Continue reading)

Kristin Smart’s alleged killer loses motion to dismiss

Written on 22 Jan, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 4 comments

By KAREN VELIE A San Luis Obispo County judge on Friday rejected an attempt by lawyers representing Paul Flores on a charge he murdered Kristin Smart during an attempted rape to dismiss the case. After more than a month of... (Continue reading)

Forest fire closes Highway 1 in Big Sur

Written on 22 Jan, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments

By KAREN VELIE A wildfire burning in the rugged hills above Big Sur has scorched 1,500 acres and led to the closure of a section of Highway 1. The Colorado Fire is 5% contained. Propelled by winds of up to... (Continue reading)

Hate crime suspect injures four Santa Barbara police officers

Written on 22 Jan, 2022 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 2 comments

By KAREN VELIE Four Santa Barbara police officers suffered minor to moderate injuries while arresting a 21-year-old suspect for allegedly assaulting a 64 year-old man while making homophobic slurs. Responding to a call, officers arrived at the 500 block of... (Continue reading)