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Santa Maria facing $21 million budget deficit

Written on 4 Oct, 2024 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 10 comments

By KAREN VELIE With costs outpacing revenues, Santa Maria is struggling with a $21 million budget deficit. The city is considering raising taxes and cutting expenditures. The primary cost driver is increased salary and benefits for city staff, according to... (Continue reading)

Nearly 3,000 PG&E customers lose power in Atascadero, Templeton

Written on 4 Oct, 2024 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments

By KAREN VELIE Nearly 3,000 PG&E customers lost power in Atascadero and Templeton on Friday morning. At 5.26 a.m., 2,915 PG&E customers lost power from Highway 41 in Atascadero to just south of Vineyard Drive in Templeton. Witnesses report hearing... (Continue reading)

Templeton CHP seeks help finding highway vandal

Written on 4 Oct, 2024 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By KAREN VELIE The Templeton California Highway Patrol is seeking the public’s help in finding the vandal or vandals who splatter paint on Highway 46 in the Vineyard Drive area. Officers are seeking information on the vandal who tossed paint... (Continue reading)

Jury convicts Morro Bay man of threatening girlfriend

Written on 4 Oct, 2024 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment

By KAREN VELIE A jury this week found a 45-year-old Morro Bay man guilty of making criminal threats against his former girlfriend. From Dec. 31, 2023 through Jan. 6, 2024, Eric Douglas Zentzis left over 50 voicemails and sent multiple... (Continue reading)

Nearly 2,000 PG&E customers lose power in San Luis Obispo County

Written on 3 Oct, 2024 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By KAREN VELIE Nearly 3,000 PG&E customers lost power in San Luis Obispo County on Thursday afternoon. At 2:39 p.m., 2,989 PG&E customers lost power from northern San Luis Obispo through southern Santa Margarita. By 4: p.m., PG&E restored power... (Continue reading)

Santa Barbara County reports inmate hit head, died

Written on 3 Oct, 2024 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By KAREN VELIE The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department reported today that a 40-year-old inmate died from brain trauma after having a seizure and hitting his head on the ground last month. The coroner found Antonio Alvarado Orozco of Santa... (Continue reading)

CHP seeks help finding Nipomo hit-and-run driver

Written on 3 Oct, 2024 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo CHP is seeking the public’s help to solve a hit-and-run crash in Nipomo on Sept. 17. Shortly before 7:30 p.m., a motorcycle and vehicle a vehicle collided on Tefft Street near Highway 101.... (Continue reading)

Alleged Santa Maria arsonist filmed firefighters battling blaze

Written on 2 Oct, 2024 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By KAREN VELIE After allegedly setting a commercial building on fire in Santa Maria on Tuesday, a 33-year-old man came back and filmed firefighters extinguishing the blaze. Shortly after midnight, a caller reported a fire burning at a vacant commercial... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles City Counsel appoints Huot interim city manager

Written on 2 Oct, 2024 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 4 comments

By KAREN VELIE The Paso Robles City Council on Tuesday appointed acting City Manager Chris Huot to serve as interim city manager. City Manager Ty Lewis is currently on an extended paid leave of absence related to health issues. On... (Continue reading)

Man dies in fiery crash near Buellton

Written on 2 Oct, 2024 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment

By KAREN VELIE A 36-year-old man died in a fiery crash on Highway 154 near Buellton on Monday evening, according to the CHP. Shortly after 9 p.m., Nicholas Johnson was headed westbound on Highway 154 when the Hyundai he was... (Continue reading)