Daily Briefs


Santa Maria police seize guns from alleged gang members

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Santa Maria police officers made six arrests and seized two guns while countering gang activity over the weekend. On Saturday, Gang Suppression Team officers contacted three known juveniles in Evans Park located at 200 W. Williams Street.... (Continue reading)

Body of man who drowned recovered at Lopez Lake

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Dive Team on Monday recovered the body of a 25-year-old man who drowned at Lopez Lake on Sunday afternoon. The victim has been identified as Sergio MendiolaGarcia, 25, of Santa Maria.... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara counties again issued extreme heat warnings

  By JOSH FRIEDMAN For the second week in a row, the National Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The warnings are in effect from 10 a.m. Monday to 8 p.m.... (Continue reading)

Crime rates fell in Arroyo Grande in 2025

By KAREN VELIE Violent crimes, property crimes and traffic crimes all fell in Arroyo Grande in 2025, according to the Arroyo Grande Police Department’s 2025 annual report. The 2025 report represents the first formal annual report published by the department.... (Continue reading)

Gas prices soaring in San Luis Obispo County, find lowest costs

By KAREN VELIE The average price for a gallon of gas in San Luis Obispo has jumped more than $1.12 in the past three weeks because of conflicts in the Middle East. In addition to increasing crude oil prices, gasoline... (Continue reading)

Pedestrian killed on Highway 101 near Los Alamos

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A driver struck and killed a pedestrian on Highway 101 near Los Alamos early Saturday morning. Shortly after 2 a.m., a witness reported a vehicle had struck a pedestrian on northbound Highway 101 north of Alisos Canyon... (Continue reading)

Brush fire burns 100 acres near Huasna

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A brush fire burned 100 acres northeast of Huasna on Friday. Shortly after 11:30, a caller reported the fire burning near Caldwell Mesa Road and Forest Route 31S04, according to Cal Fire. Initially, fire officials reported the... (Continue reading)

Agitated man stabs Santa Barbara County deputy in the chest

By KAREN VELIE An agitated man stabbed a Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputy in the chest during a welfare check on Friday morning in Goleta. Shortly after midnight, the man called sheriff’s dispatch and said he intended to harm someone.... (Continue reading)

Elderly driver injured in rollover crash in San Luis Obispo

By KAREN VELIE An elderly driver was injured in a rollover crash in San Luis Obispo on Friday morning. Shortly before noon, a 9-1-1 caller reported a single car crash near the intersection of Chorro and West streets. A Subaru... (Continue reading)

UC Santa Barbara hall evacuated following threats

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Alleged criminal threats led to the evacuation on Thursday of a 49,900 gross-square-foot building on the UC Santa Barbara campus. [KEYT] While investigating the threats, authorities ordered the evacuation of Henley Hall, which houses UCSB’s Institute for... (Continue reading)