Daily Briefs


First coronavirus death reported at Lompoc prison camp

A 75-year-old prison camp inmate died Wednesday, marking the first coronavirus death at the minimum-security facility in Lompoc that is located adjacent to the federal penitentiary. On April 8, Jimmie Lee Houston informed health services staff at the prison camp,... (Continue reading)

What does the governor’s reopening plan mean for SLO County?

It appears San Luis Obispo County meets the criteria required to reopen restaurants with some restrictions sometime next week. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced earlier today that all counties can move partially into phase two of his reopening plan on Friday.... (Continue reading)

Pismo Beach planning to mandate face masks in mid-June

A split Pismo Beach City Council on Tuesday voted 3-2 for an ordinance requiring people to wear face masks inside essential businesses. If approved during a second meeting on May 19, the ordinance will go into force 30 days later,... (Continue reading)

Armed robber steals bandana in Atascadero

Atascadero police officers arrested a man on Wednesday who stole a bandana from the Chalk Mountain Liquor on El Camino Real, and then allegedly attempted to stab a clerk. After the clerk noticed the theft, he confronted 21-year-old Kyle Walls.... (Continue reading)

SLO County coronavirus testing increases, new cases decrease

Labs in San Luis Obispo County have tested 3,639 people, with 208 positive coronavirus results. In the past two days, there have been only six new confirmed cases of the virus: two in San Luis Obispo and four in Paso... (Continue reading)

Lawsuit filed in fatal crash of tour bus near Shandon

Members of country singer Josh Turner’s road crew have filed a lawsuit in San Luis Obispo Superior Court over the crash last year in which a tour bus plunged off an approximately 50-foot cliff near Shandon, killing a sound engineer... (Continue reading)

Four California prison inmates killed in less than 24 hours

In a span of less than 24 hours, more California state prison inmates died as a result of murder than have died as a result of coronavirus since the onset of the pandemic. From Thursday afternoon through Friday morning, four... (Continue reading)

Lompoc prison opens new hospital for coronavirus patients

A hospital has been constructed and is set to open Wednesday at the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex, to deal with the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Located inside a decommissioned prison factory within the medium-security U.S. penitentiary, the new hospital unit consists... (Continue reading)

Free coronavirus testing in SLO County, one new case

There are now two locations in San Luis Obispo County where people can get free coronavirus tests: one in Grover Beach and the other in Paso Robles. For the next two weeks, the state is funding the testing of approximately... (Continue reading)

Gov. Newsom announces plans to loosen shelter rules on Friday

Following dozens of protests throughout California, Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced plans to begin to reopen the economy on Friday. Under modification that will be announced on Thursday, Newsom is scheduled to allow some manufacturing and retail stores to reopen.... (Continue reading)