Daily Briefs


Atascadero zoo welcomes three Mexican spider monkeys

By KAREN VELIE Three young Mexican spider monkeys recently joined 45-year-old Izzy, also a spider monkey, at the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero. The young monkeys, all under a year old, are now on exhibit and can be seen by... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo County rain, reservoir levels after latest storm

By KAREN VELIE A strong atmospheric river storm brought 7.61 inches to Rocky Butte in just two days. San Luis Obispo County’s rainfall totals now run from 30% to 66% of average for this time of year, according to SLO... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles firefighters rescue nine people stranded near the riverbed

By KAREN VELIE Paso Robles firefighters rescued nine people stranded on an island in the Salinas River on Thursday afternoon. After a caller reported people living in encampments in the riverbed were stranded, three engines, a battalion chief, and a... (Continue reading)

50,000 gallons of sewage spill into San Luis Obispo Creek

By KAREN VELIE An estimated 50,000 gallons of sewage spilled into San Luis Obispo Creek amid the storm on Thursday, according to SLO County Public Health Department. At 12:40 p.m., a  release of partially treated wastewater mixed with diluted rainwater... (Continue reading)

SLO County power outages, trees down, crashes, road closures

Update: CalCoastNews has included additional road closures. By KAREN VELIE An atmospheric river storm sweeping through San Luis Obispo County on Thursday morning has led to crashes, road closures, flooding and power outages. SLO County is under a high wind... (Continue reading)

Seven-vehicle collision on Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo

By KAREN VELIE A reported seven-vehicle collision on Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo slowed northbound traffic during rush hour on Wednesday afternoon, according to the CHP. Shortly before 5:45 p.m., multiple vehicles crashed at the Monterey Street northbound off-ramp.... (Continue reading)

Gov. Gavin Newsom cuts Cal Poly’s already precarious budget

By KAREN VELIE Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is facing a $24.2 million reduction to its already precarious budget after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to cut the California State University budget by $375 million. In its 2024-2025 fiscal year... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo serial vandal busted while out on bail, facing prison time

By KAREN VELIE A 47-year-old serial vandal from San Luis Obispo is headed to prison after he was busted for being a felon in possession of ammunition while out on bail on a vandalism charge. During the past 14 years,... (Continue reading)

Significant atmospheric river storm headed to the Central Coast

By KAREN VELIE This winter’s biggest atmospheric river storm to date is set to hammer the Central Coast starting late tonight. Expect heavy rain, flooding and high surf from Wednesday night through Friday morning. The storm could result in rain... (Continue reading)

San Luis Obispo child molester sentenced to prison

By KAREN VELIE A judge recently sentenced a San Luis Obispo man who sexually abused at least four girls at an unlicensed daycare center to 50 years in prison. In May 2018, a girl told officers she had been sexually... (Continue reading)