Daily Briefs


Nipomo man arrested for allegedly sexually abusing teen girls

By JOSH FRIEDMAN San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 21-year-old Nipomo man on Friday for allegedly sexually abusing two teenage girls. On Nov. 24, a person reported a child sexual abuse allegation to the SLO County Sheriff’s Office.... (Continue reading)

Santa Barbara County man sentenced to prison after YouTube stunt

By KAREN VELIE A Santa Barbara County man was sentenced today to six months in federal prison for obstructing a federal investigation by deliberately destroying the wreckage of an airplane that he intentionally crashed in Santa Barbara County to gain... (Continue reading)

SLO County gas prices continue dropping, find lowest prices

By KAREN VELIE Despite rising crude oil prices, the cost of gas is declining due to decreased consumption. The average price for a gallon of gas in San Luis Obispo County dropped seven cents during the past week to $5.12,... (Continue reading)

Pacific Western bank and Banc of California complete merger

By KAREN VELIE Pacific Western Bank and Banc of California announced last week they completed a merger. The combined bank will now operate under the Banc of California name. Following the merger, Banc of California is now the third-largest bank... (Continue reading)

Killer who dumped body in Nipomo guilty of murder

By KAREN VELIE A jury on Wednesday found a Santa Maria woman guilty of murdering a man whose remains were found on a Nipomo golf course in 2020. Following a trial in which 38-year-old Kimberly Machleit claimed self defense, the... (Continue reading)

Ex-Central Coast track coach gets prison time for sexting student-athlete

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A judge sentenced a former Central Coast high school track coach on Friday to two years in prison for text messaging sexually explicit material to an underage student-athlete. In 2022, while serving as track coach at Pacifica... (Continue reading)

SLO police asking for help identifying retail thieves

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a man who allegedly stole purses from Nordstrom Rack and a woman who snatched items from the Boot Barn. Surveillance footage from the recently... (Continue reading)

Semi-truck driver allegedly critically injures man in Highway 46 crash, then flees

By JOSH FRIEDMAN California Highway Patrol officers are searching for a semi-truck and its driver, who allegedly caused a collision on Highway 46 by the Shandon Rest Area Friday morning that left a Bay Area man in critical condition. Shortly... (Continue reading)

Alleged Santa Maria bank robber arrested in Los Angeles

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Authorities tracked down the man who allegedly robbed a Santa Maria bank at knifepoint on Monday and arrested him in Los Angeles. Shortly after 8 a.m., a man armed with a knife forced his way into the... (Continue reading)

Pedestrian injured after being struck by a car in Arroyo Grande

By KAREN VELIE A woman was hospitalized Wednesday after being struck by a car on Grand Avenue in Arroyo Grande. Shortly after 6 p.m., a caller reported a car had hit a pedestrian on Grand Avenue at the Highway 101... (Continue reading)