Daily Briefs


Oceano board picks Paavo Ogren for interim general manager

By KAREN VELIE The Oceano Community Services District selected Paavo Ogren to serve as interim general manager during a closed session meeting on Monday. Amid refusals by several board members to abide by open meeting laws, both the district’s legal... (Continue reading)

Speakers critical of trans movement coming to Cal Poly, sparking controversy

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A pair of speakers who are critical of the transgender movement will speak at Cal Poly Tuesday evening at an event that is sparking controversy on the university campus. The conservative organization Turning Point USA is holding... (Continue reading)

San Simeon services district considers shutting down

By KAREN VELIE Following years of mismanagement, the San Simeon Community Services District Board is scheduled to discuss several options for shutting down the district at a board meeting on Thursday, according to the meeting agenda. Formed in 1961, the... (Continue reading)

Bicyclist hit and injured on street in Arroyo Grande

By KAREN VELIE A vehicle hit and injured a bicyclist on Fair Oaks Avenue in Arroyo Grande on Monday afternoon. According to police, a caller reported a vehicle struck a bicyclist on Fair Oaks Avenue near Valley Road. Officers arrived... (Continue reading)

Nipomo man arrested for allegedly sexually abusing teen girls

By JOSH FRIEDMAN San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 21-year-old Nipomo man on Friday for allegedly sexually abusing two teenage girls. On Nov. 24, a person reported a child sexual abuse allegation to the SLO County Sheriff’s Office.... (Continue reading)

Santa Barbara County man sentenced to prison after YouTube stunt

By KAREN VELIE A Santa Barbara County man was sentenced today to six months in federal prison for obstructing a federal investigation by deliberately destroying the wreckage of an airplane that he intentionally crashed in Santa Barbara County to gain... (Continue reading)

SLO County gas prices continue dropping, find lowest prices

By KAREN VELIE Despite rising crude oil prices, the cost of gas is declining due to decreased consumption. The average price for a gallon of gas in San Luis Obispo County dropped seven cents during the past week to $5.12,... (Continue reading)

Pacific Western bank and Banc of California complete merger

By KAREN VELIE Pacific Western Bank and Banc of California announced last week they completed a merger. The combined bank will now operate under the Banc of California name. Following the merger, Banc of California is now the third-largest bank... (Continue reading)

Killer who dumped body in Nipomo guilty of murder

By KAREN VELIE A jury on Wednesday found a Santa Maria woman guilty of murdering a man whose remains were found on a Nipomo golf course in 2020. Following a trial in which 38-year-old Kimberly Machleit claimed self defense, the... (Continue reading)

Ex-Central Coast track coach gets prison time for sexting student-athlete

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A judge sentenced a former Central Coast high school track coach on Friday to two years in prison for text messaging sexually explicit material to an underage student-athlete. In 2022, while serving as track coach at Pacifica... (Continue reading)