Daily Briefs


Thieves steal church van, burglarize Atascadero business

By KAREN VELIE Two thieves stole a van from a church that they used to burglarize Mid Coast Mower and Saw in Atascadero on Saturday morning. After taking a van from the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer on El Camino... (Continue reading)

Newsom selects political strategist living in Maryland to fill Senate seat

By JOSH FRIEDMAN California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced the appointment of Democratic Party political strategist Laphonza Butler, currently residing in Maryland, to the United States Senate seat that became vacant last week following the death Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Butler’s... (Continue reading)

Newsom vetoes bill proposing unemployment for striking workers

By JOSH FRIEDMAN California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday vetoed a bill that would have made striking workers eligible for unemployment benefits. Newsom noted in vetoing the bill that the debt in the state’s unemployment insurance fund is projected to... (Continue reading)

Woman’s body found near Lompoc, detectives investigating

By KAREN VELIE Deputies launched an investigation earlier this week into the death of a 21-year-old woman whose body was discovered on Harris Grade Road near Lompoc. On the evening of Sept. 26, a caller reported finding a body on... (Continue reading)

Shooting near Santa Maria High School prompts lockdown

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Police are investigating a shooting near Santa Maria High School on Friday afternoon, which prompted a brief lockdown of the campus.  At about 12:30 p.m., a 911 caller reported a shooting on W. Park Street, according to... (Continue reading)

Pismo Beach selects new city manager

By KAREN VELIE The Pismo Beach City Council selected Jeorge Garcia to be its new top executive. Council members are expected to formally approve the hire on Oct. 3. Garcia has served Pismo Beach since 2018 as the assistant city... (Continue reading)

Paul Flores attends first court visit since brutal attack

By KAREN VELIE Paul Flores, the man convicted of murdering a Cal Poly coed, was in court on Thursday for the first time since an inmate stabbed him in the neck last month. There were no visible injuries on the... (Continue reading)

SLO County votes to allow marijuana retail shops

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on Tuesday to move forward with permitting marijuana retail shops in county areas as a way to recharge the county’s failing cannabis industry, with supervisors Debbie Arnold and... (Continue reading)

Former Cal Fire SLO captain changes plea at sentencing hearing

By KAREN VELIE During a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, a former San Luis Obispo County Cal Fire captain withdrew his guilty plea and asked for a jury trial. James Peter Thomas will now face charges he grouped a coworker in... (Continue reading)

SLO gym owner pleads not guilty, could face more charges

By KAREN VELIE The owner of an all women’s gym in San Luis Obispo pleaded not guilty to five criminal charges on Wednesday. Cole Corrigan, however, could face additional charges. On Aug. 23, a pregnant woman found a spy camera... (Continue reading)